Spina bifida occulta: lesion or anomaly?
Failure of fusion of the posterior arches of the lumbosacral spine above S3 was sought on frontal radiographs of 653 patients attending an accident and emergency (A & E) department. The patients were aged from 2 months to 98 years and represent all those with relevant information discharged as A & E outpatients over a 2-year period. Presenting complaints of backache or enuresis and inadequate radiographs were excluded. Spina bifida occulta was diagnosed in 22% of the whole group. The incidence was much higher in those below the age of 40 years (29.2%) compared with those above (9.8%). The overall age-adjusted incidence was 17.3%. Our study is an attempt to judge the off-the-street' prevalence of spina bifida occulta. It supports the notion that spina bifida occulta is a common anomaly, of no clinical significance on its own.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016136:Spina Bifida Occulta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*