Diastematomyelia – a diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Case report.
Journal Title: Ortopedia Traumatologia Rehabilitacja - Year 2010, Vol 12, Issue 3
Abstract
Summary 1. Introduction. Diastematomyelia is a type of dysraphism with a double or bifid spinal cord divided by an osseous septum. This defect often co-occurs with other developmental disorders of the skull or the atlanto-occipital junction. The course may be benign or aggressive. 2. Case reports. We describe two female patients treated in the Rehabilitation Clinic and the Orthopaedic Department at the Medical University of Lublin in the years 2004 – 2009. The first patient was diagnosed at the age of 20 years to have diastematomyelia at the L3 level and spina bifida occulta at L1- S5 and at the C1 arch. In the other patient, diastematomyelia at the L3 level and spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 were found at the age of 14 years. Initially both patients were treated for lumbosacral radicular syn-dromes. Physiotherapy intensified the pain.The patient with diastematomyelia and L5-S1 spondylolisthesis had L5-S1 segment stabi-lization performed at the age of 16. The pain subsided after the surgery. The other patient was instructed to stop rehabilitation, follow a balanced lifestyle, and re-frain from physical work, which eliminated the pain.3. Discussion Managing a patient with diastematomyelia demands caution. Diagnosis of this defect re-quires a thorough cause-and-effect analysis of the presenting signs and symptoms of spinal dysfunction. The treatment should be dependent on local pain intensity (which is often not directly associated with the disorder) and on the degree of neurological dysfunction. 5. Conclusions 1. A thorough clinical evaluation with spinal imaging prior to elective surgery for sco-liosis and other spine deformities should be a standard procedure undertaken in order to avoid complications. 2. The treatment for diastematomyelia should depend on the intensity of local pain and on the level of neurological dysfunction. 3. Broadly understood rehabilitation is not always effective, often increasing the pain and/or neurological complaints.
Authors and Affiliations
Marek Fatyga , Michał Latalski , Tomasz Raganowicz , Andrzej Gregosiewicz
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP57019
- DOI -
- Views 110
- Downloads 0
Tłumaczenie, adaptacja kulturowa i walidacja polskojęzycznej wersji kwestionariusza Foot and Ankle Outcomes Questionnaire
Wstęp. W polskojęzycznej literaturze brak jest narzędzia umożliwiającego pomiar wyników leczenia w obrębie stawu skokowego i stopy na podstawie opinii pacjentów.Materiał i metody. Dokonano zgodnego z zaleceniami przekład...
Surgical Treatment Outcomes in Metastatic Tumours Located at the Craniocervical Junction
Background. Cancer metastases to the upper section of the cervical spine are found in a low percentage of patients. Their conservative treatment consists in radio- and chemotherapy as well as immobilisation in an orthopa...
Cartilage lesions of the knee treated with blood mesenchymal stem cells – results.
The study aimed to assess long-term clinical outcomes of cartilage lesion treatment with blood stem cells. The analysis of complications of this method was an additional aim.The study group comprised 52 patients with ICR...
Assessment of Ilizarov's method in intraarticular calcaneal fractures
Background. Hindfoot dysfunction after intrarticular fracture of calcaneus are evokated by disturbances of muscle balance caused by change of bone shape and disturbances of talo-calcanear join function caused by secondar...
PNF-based Rehabilitation in Patients with Severe Haemophilic Arthropathy – Case Study
Haemophilia is a congenital haemorrhagic diathesis that in its most severe form leads to a seriously disabling arthropathy as a result of recurring intraarticular bleeding. Within the last couple of years there have been...