Screening spinal ultrasound in newborns with neural tube defects.

Abstract

Twenty-six newborns with spina bifida had complete spinal ultrasound (US) prior to initial surgical repair of the neural tube defects. Associated anomalies were found on screening US in seven infants and included diastematomyelia (two cases), hydromyelia (two cases), and dural fat deposits (three cases). Initial surgical therapy was altered in one infant with diastematomyelia. Four closed simple meningoceles showed no internal neural elements on US and none were found at surgery.