Prenatal diagnosis of diastematomyelia: case report

Objective 

To present a prenatally diagnosed case of fetal diastematomyelia and discussion of management fort this case.

Case 

A 26 years old gravida 1, para 0 was referred to our unit at 21 weeks gestation. A widening of the spinal canal, echogenic bony spur traversing the spinal canal, intact skin and soft tissues overlying the affected spinal segment were detected upon detailed ultrasonographic examination. Conus medullaris distance was measured as 24 mm and tethered cord syndrome was excluded. Other system examinations showed no additional anomalies. After counseling about the prognosis of fetus, the pregnancy was followed up. No neurological deficits existed in the baby delivered at 40th gestational weeks by the vaginal delivery. The newborn weighed 3280 grams and the APGAR scores were 9/10. The newborn was discharged from the hospital on the first postpartum day with the advices of regular neurological examination.

Conclusion 

The presence of tethered cord syndrome and other anomalies should be investigated for the management of the cases of fetal diastematomyelia.

Keywords

Fetal diastematomyelia, tethered cord syndrome

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	Figure Coronal view of the fetal spine with the bony spur