Diastematomyelia is a congenital abnormality that is also known as split cord malformation. It is a type of spinal dysraphism characterized by a longitudinal split in the spinal cord.
Symptoms of Diastematomyelia
The presentation of symptoms depends upon the severity of the condition. The patients with mild type II are minimally affected and remain asymptomatic while others may show following symptoms:
- Stigmata or having cutaneous lesions like subcutaneous mass, dimples, hairy patches etc.
- Leg weakness
- Pain in lower back
- Scoliosis or curve in spine
- Bladder and bowel incontinence
Associated anomalies with Diastematomyelia
Most of the patients of Diastematomyelia also have following associated anomalies:
- Meningocele
- Neurenteric cyst
- Dermoid
- Clubfoot
- Spinal cord lipoma
- Haemangioma overlying spine
DIAGNOSIS OF DIASTEMATOMYELIA
Diagnosis of Diastematomyelia is usually done during prenatal ultrasound and may require following diagnostic tests for confirmation:
- X-Ray
- Antenatal ultrasound
- CT scan
- MRI
Diastematomyelia treatment
Asymptomatic patients generally do not need any treatment but regular neurological assessment and routine check-ups are required to track if the condition deteriorates or not.
On the other side, patients that show signs and symptoms of the problem need immediate surgical intervention to avoid deterioration and worsening of the problem. The type of surgery depends on the manifestation of the problem. In most of the cases, decompression surgery is performed to remove the bony spur and repair the dural sac.
