Effect of cervical and lumbosacral spina bifida cystica on volumes of intracranial structures in children.

Purpose: Spina bifida is a major disorder that occurs when the membranes of the spinal cord and medulla fail to close during the embryonic period and affects the individual for the rest of life. Some physical, mental, and social difficulties can be observed in the lives of children with spina bifida after surgery. The aim of this study is to determine what kind of volumetric changes occur in the brain when spina bifida occurs in different regions of the cord.

Methods: The volume of intracranial structures of 14 children aged 1 to 9 years (7 cervical, 7 lumbosacral) with different levels of spina bifida compared with vol2Brain.

Results: Spina bifida occurring in the cervical region was found to cause a greater volumetric reduction in subcortical structures, cortex and gyrus than spina bifida occurring in the lumbosacral region.

Conclusion: We believe that our study will help clinicians involved in the management of this disorder.