Vertebral Defects:
Spina bifida: It is one of the most serious congenital anomalies in vertebrae due to failure of the vertebral arches to fuse in the lumbosacral region. It is more common in female than male, and 80% of its cases are ‘open’ and covered by a thin membrane (figure 15 A and B).
Two types of spina bifida are:
Spina bifida occulta: a type of spina bifida that involve the boney vertebral arch, leaving the spinal cord intact. No neurological deficits occur (figure 16 A).
Spina bifida cystica (cyst-like sac): a type of spina bifida that the neural tube fails to close, vertebral arches fail to form, and neural tissue is exposed. Neurological deficits occur (figure 16 B to D).
N.B:
*When the cyst includes the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid (CSFN) the defect is called spins bifida with meningocele (figure 16 B).
*When the cyst includes the spinal cord or nerves the defect is called spins bifida with meningomyelocele(figure 16 C)
Two types of spina bifida are:
Spina bifida occulta: a type of spina bifida that involve the boney vertebral arch, leaving the spinal cord intact. No neurological deficits occur (figure 16 A).
Spina bifida cystica (cyst-like sac): a type of spina bifida that the neural tube fails to close, vertebral arches fail to form, and neural tissue is exposed. Neurological deficits occur (figure 16 B to D).
N.B:
*When the cyst includes the meninges and cerebrospinal fluid (CSFN) the defect is called spins bifida with meningocele (figure 16 B).
*When the cyst includes the spinal cord or nerves the defect is called spins bifida with meningomyelocele(figure 16 C)
Hemivertebra: It results from failure of one of the chondrification centers to appear that lead to failure of half of the vertebra to form while in the normal developing vertebral bodies there are two chondrification centers that unite later. Hemivertebra is the most common cause of congenital scoliosis (lateral and rotational curvature) (figure 17 A).
Rachischisis (cleft vertebral column): a complex group of anomalies that primary affect axial structures. The neural folds fail to fuse.
Klippel-Feil-Syndrome (Brevicollis): Fusion of the cervical vertebral bodies with abnormalities of the brainstem and cerebellum. The symptoms of this syndrome include shortness of neck, low hairline, and restricted movement of the upper spine.
Scoliosis: lateral curving of the spine due to two successive vertebrae fuse asymmetrically or have half a vertebra missing (figure 17 B).
Rachischisis (cleft vertebral column): a complex group of anomalies that primary affect axial structures. The neural folds fail to fuse.
Klippel-Feil-Syndrome (Brevicollis): Fusion of the cervical vertebral bodies with abnormalities of the brainstem and cerebellum. The symptoms of this syndrome include shortness of neck, low hairline, and restricted movement of the upper spine.
Scoliosis: lateral curving of the spine due to two successive vertebrae fuse asymmetrically or have half a vertebra missing (figure 17 B).