AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF SPECTRUM OF CONGENITAL SPINAL DEFECTS IN CHILDREN ATTENDING PAEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTHERN INDIA

Abstract

Congenital anomalies in children are not infrequent and the birth defects of cardiovascular and digestive systems are the most common. Congenital spinal defects have prevalence and incidence of about 2.74% and 1-3 per 1000 live births respectively. The range of spinal defects may vary from a tuft of hair with an underlying spina bida to various types of spinal dysraphism. This observational study was undertaken to study the spectrum of neural tube defects among children attending the pediatric outpatient of a tertiary care hospital. Twenty-one children were included in the study. Fourteen infants were less than 1-year old and seven were between 2-7 years of age. Fourteen children had meningomyelocele (MMC). The commonest site was in the lumbosacral region. Seven patients of MMC had associated hydrocephalus, and seven had talipes deformity. Other accompanying defects included pes cavus, pectus carinatum, polydactyly and congenital heart defects, seen in one case each. Soft uctuant swelling over the spine, kyphoscoliosis, accid paralysis of lower extremities, and incontinence of urine were the cardinal symptoms. CT Scan and MRI in these children helped us to assess the quantum of decit involving the vertebra and spinal cord. This paper highlights the range of spinal abnormality seen in children with the similar clinical presentation, and therefore the need for neuroimaging in all cases with suspected neural tube defect (NTD) for proper management and prognostication.