Spinal Dysraphisms: A New Anatomical-Clinicoradiological Classification

Background  Spinal dysraphisms refer to the congenital abnormalities of the spine and spinal cord due to aberrations in the processes of gastrulation, primary neurulation, and secondary neurulation. Embryology of many complex spinal dysraphisms are yet poorly understood and there is no agreeable anatomical-clinicoradiological classification with inclusion of recently documented and complex spinal dysraphisms. Aims and Objectives  The main objective of this study was to review the imaging features of spinal dysraphisms with a better understanding of embryological abnormalities and propose a new classification inclusive of all complex and unusual dysraphisms based on anatomical and clinicoradiological correlation. Materials and Methods  This was a retrospective single institutional observational study of 391 cases of spinal dysraphism for 10 years in our institution. Of 391 cases included in the study, 204 were males and 187 were females. Also, 123 cases belonged to the 0-6 months age group, 38 cases belonged to the 7-12 months age group, 156 belonged to the 1-5 years age group, 39 cases belonged to the 6-10 years age group, and 35 cases belonged to 10-20 years age group. Results  An anatomical-clinicoradiological analysis of cases yielded a high proportion of cases of spinal lipomas, including lipomyeloceles and lipomyelomeningoceles (31.3%) and posterior myelomeningocele (14.2%). Anterior myelocoele (0.2%), sacral chordoma(0.2%), and intrasacral meningocele (0.2%) formed the least proportion of cases. A new classification was proposed based on the analysis of acquired data. Conclusion  A structured approach in imaging spinal dysraphism is necessary for imaging evaluation in recent years. The proposed new classification based on clinicoradiological correlation and anatomic location is inclusive of unusual and complex dysraphisms.