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SPINAL DYSRAPHISM

C. C. Michael James 1; and L. P. Lassman 1

1 The Newcastle General Hospital

1. A syndrome resulting from congenital lesions affecting the spinal cord and cauda equina, associated with spina bifida occulta, is described.

2. The syndrome consists of a progressive deformity of the lower limbs in children. One foot and the same leg grow less rapidly than the other. The foot develops a progressive deformity which begins as a cavo-varus and becomes a valgus one. Both lower limbs may be affected. There may be progression to sensory loss, trophic ulceration, disturbance of function of bowel and bladder and even paraplegia.

3. Methods of investigation including myelography are described.

4. Exploration of the spinal cord has been undertaken in twenty-four patients so affected. Extrinsic congenital lesions causing traction or pressure or a combination of traction and pressure on the spinal cord have been found in twenty-two of these.

5. In two-thirds of the patients some degree of improvement has followed operation.
(c) British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery All Rights Reserved
Registered charity no: 209299     Print ISSN: 0301-620X
Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General