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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1997;77:F67-F69 ( July )

Level of conus medullaris in term and preterm neonates

F Şahin,a M Selçuki,b N Ecin,c A Zenciroglu,a A Ünlü,b F Yilmaz,c N Mavis,c S Saribasa

a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sami Ulus Children's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, b Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Paediatric Neurosurgery, University of Ankara School of Medicine, c Radiology Unit, Sami Ulus Children's Hospital

Correspondence to: Dr Figen Şahin, Oyak Sitesi 7, Blok No 7, Çankaya 08550 Ankara, Turkey.

Accepted 12 February 1997

AIMS---To compare the levels of conus medullaris in preterm and term neonates; to show the time of ascent to normal; and to evaluate the babies with low conus medullaris levels for tethered cord syndrome.
METHODS---Levels were assessed using ultrasonography in 41 preterm and 64 term neonates.
RESULTS---In the preterm group the conus medullaris level in one infant (2.4%) was below L4. In three infants (7.2%) it was between L2 and L3 and in 37 infants (90.4%) it was above L2. In the term group it was below L4 in one baby (1.6%), between L2 and L3 in four (6.3%), and above L2 in 57 babies (92.1%). The difference in the conus medullaris levels between term and preterm neonates and genders was not significant. Two patients, one with a conus medullaris level at L4-L5, and the other at L2-L3, had Down's syndrome.
CONCLUSION---The ascent of conus medullaris seems to occur early in life. It is important to follow up patients with conus medullaris levels at or below the 4th lumbar vertebra for the development of tethered cord syndrome.

Keywords: conus medullaris; spinal cord; tethered cord; ultrasonography


© 1997 by Archives of Disease in Childhood






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