Lumbosacral nevus simplex in a newborn girl with an asymmetrical Y-shaped gluteal cleft

Abstract

• Closed spinal dysraphism (CSD) is an embryological disorder of neurulation and encompasses a range of pathologies, including spinal cord malformations, spinal cord cysts, tethered spinal cord, and cutaneous findings. • CSD is frequently identified by cutaneous lesions alone, and further imaging with ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to look for spinal cord abnormalities based on stratification of the lesions into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk categories. • Tethered cord syndrome can be caused by CSD and occurs when the spinal cord is fixed at the caudal end and stretches with growth. It can be asymptomatic in babies but can manifest as urinary incontinence, lower-extremity weakness and gait abnormalities, and foot and spine deformities in older children. • Treatment of tethered cord syndrome is surgical release of the tethered cord, and prompt neurosurgical evaluation and treatment help optimize surgical outcomes.