23 results found
Article
Spina bifida
Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect/spinal dysraphism which can occur to varying degrees of severity. It is often considered the most common congenital CNS malformation.
Terminology
Spina bifida in its strictest sense means defective fusion of the vertebral posterior elements, leading...
Article
Spina bifida occulta
Spina bifida occulta is the mildest form of spina bifida/spinal dysraphism and is a type of neural tube defect.
Terminology
While typically referring to asymptomatic posterior fusion defects, some authors 5 use it as a broad term that encompasses closed spinal defects such as:
diastematomyel...
Article
Rachischisis totalis
Rachischisis totalis, also known as complete spina bifida, refers to a severe form of spina bifida where there is a cleft through the entire spine.
Pathology
There is often a severe or complete defect of the neural tube involving the entire spine from the cervical region through to the sacrum....
Article
Clasp-knife deformity
Clasp-knife deformity is relatively common congenital anomaly found at the lumbosacral junction.
Terminology
When a clasp-knife deformity is accompanied by pain on extension secondary to protrusion of the enlarged spinous process (knife blade) into the sacral spinal canal, it is called clasp-k...
Article
Diastematomyelia
Diastematomyelia, also known as a split cord malformation, refers to a type of spinal dysraphism (spina bifida occulta) characterised by a longitudinal split in the spinal cord.
Terminology
Although traditionally, it has been distinguished from diplomyelia (in which the cord is duplicated rat...
Article
Spinal dysraphism
Spinal dysraphisms refer to a broad group of malformations affecting the spine and/or surrounding structures in the dorsum of the embryo. They are a form of neural tube defect.
Pathology
The neural tube is formed by the lengthwise closure of the neural plate, in the dorsum of the embryo.
The ...
Article
Posterior vertebral fusion anomalies
Posterior vertebral fusion anomalies are relatively common and should not be mistaken for fractures. They are thought to be both developmental and pathological (e.g. spondylolysis) but are typically asymptomatic and incidental, and considered as anatomical variants. There are six types of poster...
Article
Tethered cord syndrome
Tethered cord syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal canal.
Clinical presentation
Tethered cord syndrome is a clinical diagnosis based on neurologic deterioration involving the lower spinal cord 7. Patients ...
Article
Chiari II malformation
Chiari II malformations are relatively common congenital malformations of the spine and posterior fossa characterised by myelomeningocele (lumbosacral spina bifida aperta) and a small posterior fossa with descent of the brainstem, cerebellar tonsils, and vermis through the foramen magnum. Numero...
Article
Butterfly vertebra
Butterfly vertebra, also sometimes known as a sagittal cleft vertebra or anterior rachischisis, is a type of vertebral anomaly that results from the failure of fusion of the lateral halves of the vertebral body because of persistent notochordal tissue between them.
Pathology
Butterfly vertebra...
Article
Lipomyelomeningocele
Lipomyelomeningoceles are one of the forms of closed spinal dysraphism. They usually present as a subcutaneous fatty mass just above the intergluteal cleft. However, some lipomyelomeningoceles may occur at other locations along the spinal canal.
Clinical presentation
Lipomyelomeningoceles may ...
Article
Spinal arachnoid cyst
Spinal arachnoid cysts are relatively uncommon and may be either intradural (type III meningeal cyst) or extradural (type IA meningeal cyst).
This article specifically focuses on spinal arachnoid cysts. For a general discussion of arachnoid cysts, refer to the main article: arachnoid cyst.
Epi...
Article
Scoliosis
Scoliosis (plural: scolioses) is defined as an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. It is quite common in young individuals and is often idiopathic and asymptomatic. In some cases, however, it is the result of underlying structural or neurological abnormalities.
Terminology
Early onset sco...
Article
Conjoined nerve root
Conjoined nerve roots are the most common nerve root developmental anomaly of the cauda equina, being twice as common as two roots in the same foramen, the next most common anomaly.
Epidemiology
The incidence in cadaveric studies is ~10% (range 8-14%) 2, and in one prospective MRI study was 6%...
Article
Anterior sacral meningocele
Anterior sacral meningocele is a congenital defect seen in the anterior aspect of the spine. It is defined as a meningeal cyst that occurs in the presacral space secondary to agenesis of a portion of the anterior sacrum.
Pathology
Associations
In approximately 50% of cases, associated malform...
Article
Myelomeningocele
Myelomeningocele, also known as spina bifida cystica, is a complex congenital spinal anomaly that results in spinal cord malformation (myelodysplasia).
Epidemiology
It is one of the most common congenital CNS anomalies and is thought to occur in approximately 1:500 of live births 5. There may...
Article
Klippel-Feil syndrome
Klippel-Feil syndrome is a complex heterogeneous entity that results in cervical vertebral fusion. Two or more non-segmented cervical vertebrae are usually sufficient for diagnosis.
Epidemiology
There is a recognised female predilection 1. Klippel-Feil syndrome has an incidence of 1:40,000-42,...
Article
Tight filum terminale syndrome
Tight filum terminale syndrome, or tight filum syndrome, is a subtype of the tethered cord syndrome that is attributed to a thick, short, and/or otherwise inelastic filum terminale rather than other tethering agents.
Terminology
The term "tight filum terminale syndrome" is synonymous with "tet...
Article
Spinal neurenteric cyst
Spinal neurenteric cysts are a rare type of foregut duplication cyst, accounting for ~1% of all spinal cord tumours. They are usually classified as spinal or intracranial and are associated with vertebral or CNS abnormalities respectively.
Pathology
Neurenteric cysts result from incomplete re...
Article
Unfused spinous process
Unfused spinous process, which is really failure of fusion of the neural arch, is a relatively common anatomical variant and is part of the spectrum of spina bifida occulta.
This should be differentiated from accessory ossicles of the spinous process, which appear after non-fusion of the secon...
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