RE: sacral dimple question

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I asked our doctor about the dimple again when Keira went for her second

cast on Thursday.

I asked him if they can simply do an ultrasound in a few months to check her

hips and dimple area. He said that the MRI has much more acuity than the

ultrasound to check her dimple area.

He said likes to wait to do the MRI until they are at least a year b/c they

must go under general anesthetic.

He said that most likely the dimple is nothing and he doesn't suspect

anything but he thinks that it never hurts to be thorough. He does seem very

conscientious...even with the casting process he seems very particular.

He said that up to 10-15% of the population could have Spina Bifida Occulta

(hidden spina bifida) and most will never have any issues and most would

never know unless you had a back x-ray for some reason, say if you injured

your back. He said that the dimples are usually nothing to worry about,

especially if they are midline, you can visualize the bottom, and are in the

intergluteal crease (all of which can be said about Keira's).

However, if the MRI did detect any tethering of the spinal cord, they can

correct it quite easily with surgery and when caught early, will almost

never be a problem. Tethering only causing problems when the child grows and

there is pressure on the spinal cord due to the tethering. Some people would

never know that their child had it until some secondary problems arose later

on during growth.

I feel much more relaxed about it now and I really feel that she will be

fine and I am praying that her dimple doesn't point to any underlying issues

though I know it is much better to be overcautious.

My son and my mom also have this so it's probably just a hereditary thing.

Anyway, I am trying not to get anxious about this and worry but I do feel

better knowing that the worst case scenario isn't as bad as I thought.

Also, he said that her foot is correcting very well even with the first cast

and this often isn't the case for clubfoot that is caused by something else.

He has also had extra training for the spine and he said that many doctors

wouldn't check but he is very thorough.

Anyway, thanks for all of your replies and info...I really appreciate it!

Have a very Merry Christmas to all of you!

Halley

Re: sacral dimple question

--- Halley Prestage wrote:

> Hello,

>

> Our daughter, Keira, was born on Dec 4 with a right clubfoot. Like my mom

> and my 16-month old son, she has a sacral dimple (a dimple just above her

> anus). The pediatrician in the hospital as well as our family doctor who

> checked her basically just said to keep it clean and of course they check

> that it has an ending and is not open.

My daughter Rose was born with a sacral dimple and clubfoot.

> Our orthopedic doctor who began treating her clubfoot last week said that

he

> wants to do an MRI at some point (like when she is 2). Now I am worried

> about things like tethered spinal cords after looking on the internet. I

am

> going to ask him why not just do an ultrasound or MRI now rather than wait

> and also, why nothing has ever been made of my son having it (who is doing

> great) and why the pediatrician didn't also suggest this. The dimple is

> right in her intergluteal crease and I've read that this is quite common

and

> that when they are in the crease they usually don't suggest anything

> problematic. Does anyone know anything about this?

Rose's ped ortho had her have an ultrasound at 4 months, and all looked

fine.

The reason nothings been made of it for your son is because it usually

signifies nothing. Since your daughter had clubfoot, it's a possibility it

could signify something. Right before we went to Iowa, we had a second

opinion, and the doctor checked her dimple. I asked him why all the doctors

did this, and he said it was to check for spina bifida (then the clubfoot

would

have been caused by something).

I think if you wanted you could request an ultrasound now. I'm wondering,

though, if the doctor suggested two because if there were any issues that

would

probably be when they started or be more likely to be visible?

A sacral dimple that would cause tethering would be a form of spina bifida

called spina bifida occulta. I have a good friend whose son was diagnosed

with

this at a year and a half. He had a deep dimple (no clubfoot), and he

developed walking issues at that time.

> Also, we had a very detailed ultrasound by a perinatologist at 20 weeks

and

> they didn't see any problems with her spine or anything.

> I remember some posts quite a while ago about sacral dimples and didn't

> really focus on them too much.

An ultrasound wouldn't usually catch spina bifida occulta during pregnancy.

> Do any of your babies/children have these and did they suggest an MRI or

> ultrasound?

I think I mentioned above Rose had an ultrasound at 4 months. I think if I

were in your position I would have an u/s. If nothing shows up, don't worry

about it. If problems arise in the future, then I'd think an MRI was in

order.

An MRI wouldn't be my first course of action, though, as they often sedate

a

child for one.

> Sorry, I know I am a worrier. My husband thinks he ought to take the

> internet away! I am just praying that everything else, besides her little

> clubfoot, is normal.

(((hugs))) It's normal to worry a bit, I think. Just don't let worry

consume

you. Worrying doesn't solve or change anything (my mantra nowadays)!

Getting

the info is good. Yes, you can read things and find things and become quite

upset, but when you look at your child and the info you have, what does your

heart tell you? Does there seem to be something beyond clubfoot wrong? Is

the

dimple quite normal in your opinion?

I hope some of this helps!

Joy

Rose (1-99) http://www.geocities.com/joybelle15/rosesclubfootpage.html

Iris (2-01)

Spencer (3-03)

Grant (9-05) http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/grantphilip

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