Therapy 4 (Minimal Spinal Dysraphism)

Operative findings in a 3-month-old girl with a skin appendage over the sacrum. On the left side a skin spindle with subcutaneous fat tissue is visible. At the top or cranially the divided cartilaginous vertebral arch can be seen. From the inner side of the skin spindle with the cutaneous appendage a cord runs into the spinal channel on the top and enters the dura. The diagnosis is a minimal spinal dysraphism. The cord may correspond to a fistula with an opening at the outside and may cause an ascending infection, or lead to tethering if it is a solid structure with a connection to the conus.