Clinical Features of Spina Bifida Occulta

Occult spina bifida may be completely hidden as its name implies and often found incidentally. Its presence may be suggested by the cutaneous features listed below. Its often asymptomatic when it occurs alone, but when it is associated with diastematomyelia, tethered cord, lipoma, or dermoid tumour, it presents as tethered cord syndrome with the neurological and urological features listed below.

It may also be associated with the orthopaedic abnormalities listed below.

System Features

Cutaneous Midline dimple
Asymmetric gluteal cleft
Capillary hemangioma
Hypertrichosis (‘hairy patch’)
Lipoma

Neurological Lower-extremity weakness
Gait instability
Sensory deficit
Back pain or lower-extremity pain

Orthopedic Clubfoot
High-arched foot
Leg-length discrepancy
Muscle atrophy
Scoliosis

Urological Incontinence
Delay in toilet training