Informatics Publishing Limited

M. Babu ¹, T. C. Anjanamma ¹, B. Venkateswarulu ¹, K. P. Varalakshmi ², N. Prabhakar Rao ³

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Forensic Medicine, Govt Medical College, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh
2 Dept. of Pathology, Govt Medical College, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, IN
3 Dept. of Forensic Medicine, Govt Medical College, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Spina bifida occulta is the mildest form of neural tube defect and often it is also called as hidden spina bifida. In other terms it is also known as Occult Spinal Dysraphisim (Occult means Hidden, Dysraphisim means Failure of embryological fusion). It is caused by incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube. Vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open during the embryonic life. Failure of the fusion leads to Occult Spinal dysraphisim. The present study was done on a male cadaver, who was died as the result of poisoning and had a disorder of Spina bifida occulta with cutaneous manifestations. Having a tuft of hair over lumbo sacral region is an unique form of spinal dysraphism with innocuous external appearance. Incidentally the case was diagnosed. As the case was uncommon, so it was taken for the study. All the external and internal findings were correlated with the findings of spina bifida occulta without tethered cord. The study gives the results that the impotency will not be associated in spina bifida occulta without tethered cord and having the tuft of hair is an unique feature of identification of an individual.

Keywords

Spina Bifida Occulta, Congenital Dermal Sinus, Folate Deficiency, Occult Spinal Dysraphisim (OSD), Neural Tube Defects

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