Sonia Baweja

A Case Report of Abnormal Spina Bifida Cystica

Introduction : Spina bifida is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open. If the opening is large enough, this allows a portion of the spinal cord to protrude through the opening in the bones. Aims of Study : To study an abnormal case of Spina Bifida Cystica Material and Method : The present study is a case report of a 11 day old female child who reported to the pediatric surgery department with the chief complaint of a cystic swelling of 53cm in a thoraco lumber region since birth. The swelling was soft but tense and the skin over the swelling was thinned out. The child showed some signs of lower limb involvement which need to confirmed. Result : On anatomical examination it was found to be a case of developmental anomaly of vertebral column in thoraco lumbar region which is against the lumbo-sacral region which is the most common site, with spinal cord involvement (neural tube defect). On test of illumination, it was found to be partially illuminated and X rays and MRI findings showed non fusion of vertebral column with abnormal protrusion of spinal cord through the defect. Conclusion : It is a case of meningomyelocele( spina bifida) caused by abnormal closure of neural folds of IIIrd and IV weeks of developments leading to neural tube defect. It was a spina bifida of cystic variety which mostly accomplish with lower limb involvement.