Failure of an orderly separation of the neuroectoderm from the surface ectoderm with the interposition of mesoderm (dysjunction) results in a spectrum of defects involving the skin, spinal cord, as well as the intervening mesodermal structures. Errors in dysjunction manifest as a variety of spinal dysraphic states including dermal sinus tracts (DSTs) and CITs.[4] Spinal dysraphism is seen in 2-...

The association between spinal dysraphism and a neuropathic bladder is well known, but the diagnosis of the spinal lesion and the associated renal problems is often delayed. Four children referred with orthopaedic problems and in whom the bladder abnormally proved to be the major disability are described. Despite widely differing vertebral involvement, all had lower motor neurone neurological d...

To cite: Vasileiadis GT. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2015211618 DESCRIPTION Neural tissue and skin are of common ectodermal origin and therefore anomalies occurring during early embryogenesis may lead to combined neuroskin malformations. Neural tube closure occurs during primary neurulation starting from the equivalent of the craniocervical jun...

Two cases are reported of patients with spinal dysraphism who developed abscesses within the spinal cord. In one case the infection had spread to the cord through a dermal sinus, as in the six cases previously recorded in the literature. In the other patient the sepsis developed within an intramedullary epidermoid tumour, but the route of infection was not clear. Each patient made a virtually f...

It is with great interest that we read the paper entitled, “A rare case of giant multiseptated thoracic myelomeningocele with segmental placode” by Patnaik and Mahapatra.[4] The authors described a rare presentation of a thoracic spinal dysraphism. The child they presented had no neurological and urologic deterioration, which is very uncommon in a thoracic myelomeningocele, and the magnetic res...

Spinal dysraphism, not associated with vertebral defect or arthrogryposis, was found in a 3-day-old Holstein-Friesian calf that was clinically diagnosed as having encephalopathy. The dysraphic lesion occurred in the sixth (C6) and seventh (C7) segments of the cervical spinal cord. Microscopically, the lesion was characterized by hydromyelia, syringomyelia, anomaly of the ventral median fissure,...

OBJECTIVE To assess the clinical and economic consequences of different diagnostic strategies in newborns with suspected occult spinal dysraphism. METHODS A decision-analytic model was constructed to project the cost and health outcomes of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), plain radiographs, and no imaging in newborns with suspected occult spinal dysraphism. Morbidity and mor...

Human tail and multiple spinal dysraphism are unusual congenital malformations. Human tail appeared as a prominent lesion from the lumbosacrococcygeal region, generally without connection between the tail and the neurospinal axis. Spinal dysraphisms are usually isolated, reaching 0.038% of incidence of multiple spinal dysraphisms in the same child. There were three cases described of unusual sp...