Iranian Journal of Neonatology

Iranian Journal of Neonatology

Ultrasound Evaluation of Spinal Cord in Newborns with Sacral Pit

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Narges Afzali 1
Abdolreza Malek 2
Sara Ghahremani 3
Mahboubeh Alipour 4
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
10.22038/ijn.2016.7650
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
Newborn
Ultrasonography
Sacral pit
Spinal dysraphism
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