| • | “spinal dysraphism” ~ a neural tube defect |
| • | the major neural tube defects: tethered cord, spina bifida occulta, syringomyelia, meningocele etc… |
| • | ultrasound is efficient screening in newborns up to 6 months old (but is inadequate for older infants and children à need MRI) |
| • | early signs of occult spinal dysraphism: |
| • | failure to achieve continence |
| • | lower extremity weakness |
| • | half of the newborns with occult spinal dysraphism have a cutaneous clue: lumbosacral midline skin abnormalities including: |
| • | localized hypertrichosis |
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