Early Motor Development in Infants with Meningomyelocele

Spina bifida at the sacral level: more than minor gait disturbances

“…Despite these limitations our nding might be additional to other sparse studies that have been reported on patients with sacral level paralysis. 1,2 In conclusion, the children with sacral level paralysis in this study had more than minor gait disturbances. Gross motor and functional problems were seen in both groups.…”

“…This might suggest that the presence of hydrocephalus or Chiari II malformation might be more responsible for the delay than the spinal lesion itself. Although we included more infants than Wolf and McLaughlin, 2 16 compared to 7, the number of patients in our study is still small for both patient groups. Therefore, larger studies will be needed to test…”

“…It is not clear to what extent this delay can be attributed to the spinal cord lesion, or to abnormalities of the brainstem or cerebellum secondary to hydrocephalus and Chiari II malformation, which are often present in patients with myelomeningocele. 2 It has also been reported that patients with sacral level lesion often have a decline in ambulatory skills in the long term. 1,3 These problems are seen in patients with lipomyelomeningocele as well as patients with myelomeningocele.…”

“…Over the last decade, few studies have reported on problems in patients with sacral level paralysis. 1,2 It has been suggested that infants with myelomeningocele at the sacral level have an early gross motor developmental delay, associated with abnormalities in postural control. It is not clear to what extent this delay can be attributed to the spinal cord lesion, or to abnormalities of the brainstem or cerebellum secondary to hydrocephalus and Chiari II malformation, which are often present in patients with myelomeningocele.…”

Early Brain Injury in Children: Development and Reorganization of Cognitive Function

“…As is also true of older children with spina bifida, there is more variability in these developmental outcomes than in the normal population (McDonough, 1988). Motor skills are, not surprisingly, less well developed (Wolf & MacLaughlin, 1992).…”