[Diastematomyelia. About a series of 6 cases (author's transl)]

The authors report 6 cases of diastematomyelia in children. They stress the rarety of this spinal cord diformity whose pathogenesis is obviously of dysraphic origin. From the clinical point of view, "orthopedic syndrom" is the most common complaint (cypho-scoliosis and - or - malformation of the feet) in a child with dorsal or lumbar cutaneous dysplasia. Neurological disorders or sphincterian disturbance are less frequent. Radiologic examination shows the high frequency of spina occulta. The diagnosis is assessed when bony spur is demonstrated on films. Vertebral body diformities are not constant and often far seated from spur. Air myelography demonstrates site and length of spinal cord cleft and often the low position of conus medullaris. Surgery allows the liberation of bifid cord by resection of spur. It should be suitable to cut filum terminale when it is accessible by laminectomy. Exposure of results stress the preventive effect of surgery for diastematomyelia.