Spina bifida occulta

Case contributed by Luis Gerardo Duque F
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Acute abdominal pain.

Patient Data

Age: 17 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

Incomplete closure of the posterior arch of the first sacral vertebral body (S1). No dilated bowel loops or pneumoperitoneum. No discrete abdominal calcifications.

Case Discussion

Incidental finding in a patient consulting for abdominal pain in the emergency department.

Spina bifida is a congenital pathology characterized by a defect in the closure of the neural tube (dysraphism). Two categories are known: open spina bifida (nervous tissue and / or meninges (exposed to the environment ) and closed spina bifida (closed skin dysraphism).

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