Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 1997;77:F67-F69 ( July )
Level of conus medullaris in term and preterm neonates
F 
ahin,a
M Selçuki,b
N Ecin,c
A Zenciro
lu,a
A Ünlü,b
F Yilmaz,c
N Mavi
,c
S Saribaa
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 ahin, 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.
METHODSLevels were assessed using ultrasonography
in 41 preterm and 64 term neonates.
RESULTSIn 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.
CONCLUSIONThe 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
