Ultrasound of the newborn vertebral canal

The use of ultrasound for the study of congenital diseases of the spinal canal in the newborn is diagnostic method known for some years. It deciphers the technical execution of the examination in the newborn and the normal sonographic anatomy. The indication for diagnostic ultrasound in the newborn are: the occult dysraphism and a series of malformations known as a group "VATER" English vertebral defects, anal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula, radial defects, renal anomalies, and, moreover, such myelocele malformations, myelomeningocele, lipoma, filum terminal short, mielocistocele terminal, lateral meningocele, hydromyelia, syringomyelia, etc.. The identification and classification of these malformations has important implications in their treatment and prognosis of neurological functions. Even in diseases acquired by birth trauma (injury, bruising) and iatrogenic injury (laceration of the dura and leptomeninges in the course of lumbar puncture) early detection plays a fundamental role. Ultrasound screening in subjects with cutaneous hemangiomas or as snow or reddish telangiectasias, skin discoloration, ipetricosi or focal tufts of hair, lipoma, sessile skin growths, skin depressions in the low back is crucial. Is important ultrasound screening involving children of diabetic mothers where there is a known prevalence of spinal deformities. The literature reports a large series confirmation of the validity of ultrasound as a diagnostic method for rapid, precise, accurate, ubiquitous, cheap, painless, and sensitive. It can also be used as a screening test with any subsequent detailed diagnosis by CT or MRI scan in pathological cases found either in anticipation of surgery.