“Bone-Within-Bone” in the Neonatal Spine

Abstract

Of 40 normal infants aged 1 to 2 months, 20 were found to have a “bone-within-bone” vertebral configuration on lateral chest radiographs. Analysis of various indices relative to both infant and mother revealed no difference between the two groups except a male preponderance in the group with the “bone-within-bone” configuration. It is suggested that the “bone-within-bone” configuration of the vertebral body of the 1 to 2 month old infant is a normal stage in the transformation of the newborn vertebra to that seen in later infancy and childhood.