A young patient with a tuft of hair over the lumbar region of the vertebral column is operated on for a congenital anomaly in that region.During surgery,it was found that the dura and arachnoid layers over the spinal cord were complete,but the neural arches of several vertebrae were missing.What condition did this patient have?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The condition described is Spina bifida occulta, which is characterized by a defect in the vertebral arches without protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges. The presence of a tuft of hair over the lumbar region is a common marker for this condition. The dura and arachnoid layers being intact while the neural arches of several vertebrae are missing aligns with the definition of Spina bifida occulta.

A Young Patient with a Tuft of Hair Over the Lumbar