A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Profile and Surgical Outcome in Patients with Spinal Dysraphism at Tertiary Care Center

Background: Spinal dysraphism refers to a spectrum of congenital anomalies of the spine resulting in a defective neural arch through which meninges and / or neural elements herniated leading to a variety of clinical manifestations. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, clinical presentations, and surgical outcome in spinal dysraphism patients. Materials and methods: This study was a retrospective study which consisted of 32 patients conducted in Academy of Medical Sciences, Pariyaram over a period of March 2015 to March 2017. All the patients were admitted in Department of Gynecology and Pediatrics. Results: The incidence was high in females 54.29% than males 45.71%. Spina bifida aperta (open type) was present in 44 patients (62.86%) and more common than Spina bifida occulta (closed) which was present in only in 26 patients which constituted 37.14%. The commonest site of occurrence of spinal dysraphism was the lumbo sacral region in 32 patients which constituted to 45.7%. Most common finding was myelomeningocele in 41 (58.6%) cases; myelocele was seen in 6 cases (8.6%). Lipomyelomeningocele was seen in 8 cases which was most common finding in closed type. The most common associated anomaly was hydrocephalus in 25 patients and next common was Arnold Chairi malformation type 11 in 20 cases. Motor weakness in the form of paraparesis or paraplegia present in25 patients preoperatively, out of which only 14 improved. Major cases of sensory deficits did not improved and remained static. In the majority of cases of 11 sphincter function, 6 cases remained status quo same as in the preoperative period. Conclusion: The most common congenital cause of disability in children is spinal dysraphism encountered by paediatric neurosurgeon. Open type spina bifida is more common than closed one .At peripheral centres, inadequatetreatmentshouldbeavoided.Spinaldysraphismpatientsshould be referred to higher tertiary centre where all the facilities are provided to the patients.