Ultrasound Evaluation of Spinal Cord in Newborns with Sacral Pit

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Radiology, Mashhad Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 General Practitioner, Mashhad Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Background: Sacral pit is a shallow or deep dimple in the lower sacral region, with a reported prevalence of 3-5% among newborns. The aim of the present study was to investigate spinal cord abnormalities in newborns with sacral pit via ultrasound examinations.
Methods: In this descriptive study, 3071 infants born at 34-42 weeks of gestation were studied in hospitals affiliated to Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, Iran during 2014-2015. Information including age, sex, and birth weight was recorded in a questionnaire. Infants with a sacral pit underwent ultrasonography; spinal shape and mobility in these infants were compared with their healthy counterparts. For statistical analysis, data were entered to Microsoft Excel software. Chi-square and student’s t-test were performed, using SPSS version 20.
Results: Based on the findings, 1.6% of the studied infants were born with a sacral pit. The weight and age were not significantly different between healthy neonates and those with a sacral pit. The prevalence of sacral pit was higher in female cases (54.2%), although there was no significant difference between the genders. Ultrasound examination of the spinal cord revealed its normal position and motility in all newborns with a sacral dimple.
Conclusion: The present results showed the normal shape and motility of the spinal cord in newborns with a sacral pit. Therefore, there was no correlation between sacral pit as a cutaneous marker and neural tube defects.

Keywords

References

  1. Lowe LH, Johanek AJ, Moore CW. Sonography of the neonatal spine: part 2, spinal disorder. AJR Am J Roentgenol.2007; 188(3):739-44.
  2. Deeg KH, Lode HM, Gassner I. Spinal sonography in newborns and infants-part II: spinal dysraphism and tethered cord. Ultraschall Med. 2008; 29(1):77-88.
  3. Chern JJ, Kirkman JL, Shannon CN, Tubbs RS,Stone JD,Royal SA, et al. Use of lumbar ultrasonography to detect occult spinal dysraphism. J Neurosurg Pediatr.2012; 9(3):274–9.
  4. Schropp C, Sorensen N, Collmann H, Krauss J. Cutaneous lesionsin occult spinaldysraphism--correlation with intraspinal findings.Childs Nerv Syst.2006; 22(2):125–31.
  5. Ponger P, Ben-Sira L, Beni-Adani L, Steinbok P,Constantini S.International survey on the management of skin stigmata and suspected tethered cord.Childs Nerv Syst.2010; 26(12):1719–25.
  6. Lowe LH, Johanek AJ, Moore CW. Sonography of the neonatal spine: part 1, normal anatomy, imaging pitfalls, and variations that may simulate disorders. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007; 188(3):733-8.
  7. Dick EA, Patel K, Owens CM, De Bruyn R. Spinal ultrasound in infants. BrJRadiol.2002; 75(892):384-92.
  8. Fitzgerald K. Ultrasound examination of the neonatal spine. AustralJUltrasound Med.2011; 14(1):39-41.
  9. Lee AC, Kwong NS, Wong YC. Management of sacral dimples detected on routine newborn examination: a case series and review. HKJ Paediatr. 2007; 12:93-5.

10. Lin KL, Wang HS, Chou ML, Lui TN. Sonography for detection of spinal dermal sinus tracts. J Ultrasound Med. 2002; 21(8):903-7.

11. Robinson AJ, Russell S, Rimmer S. The value of ultrasonic examination of the lumbar spine in infants with specific reference to cutaneous markers of occult spinal dysraphism. Clin Radiol. 2005; 60(1):72-7.

12. Lode HM, Deeg KH, Krauss J. Spinal sonography in infants with cutaneous birth markers in the lumbo-sacral region--an important sign of occult spinal dysraphism and tethered cord. Ultraschall Med. 2008; 29(Suppl 5):281-8.

13. Schropp C, Sorensen N, Collmann H, Krauss J. Cutaneous lesions in occult spinal dysraphism--correlation with intraspinal findings.Childs Nerv Syst. 2006; 22(2):125-31.

14. Kucera JN, Coley I, O’Hara S, Kosnik EJ, Coley BD. The simple sacral dimple: diagnostic yield of ultrasound in neonates. Pediatr Radiol. 2015; 45(2):211-6.

 

 

Iranian Journal of Neonatology
Volume 7, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
October 2016
Pages 21-23

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics