title: Conventional spinal radiography as a supplement to the neurologic assessment in myelomeningocele.
abstract: In patients born with a myelomeningocele early assessment of the severity of the anomaly is mandatory for planning of therapy. Conventional spinal radiography, although a routine examination, in many hospitals has been regarded as less rewarding. However, in this retrospective investigation of 92 patients, a reasonable conformity was found between conventional radiograms and neurologic deficit at follow-up. There was no significant difference between the results of radiologic examinations carried out during the first 1 to 10 weeks after birth and the later neurologic findings. Hence, the simple radiologic assessment has proved a valuable baseline examination in these patients. In cases with discrepancy between the conventional radiologic and the neurologic findings, and in cases with a course diverging from the anticipated, more sophisticated methods of imaging are recommended.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009068:Movement; D011859:Radiography; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*