Thoraco-lumbar duplication of the spine : Case report and embryology review

We present a case of an asymptomatic and neurologically normal 6-year-old girl who was noted to have a gross spinal abnormality. Neuroimaging demonstrates gross thoraco-lumbar spine duplication, which is at the severe end of the split cord malformation (SCM) group of congenital abnormalities. Despite the position of the neural structures, the clinical condition has so far not suggested that any surgical intervention is indicated, though the girl's later growth spurts may still unmask features of a tethered spinal cord. We present a brief review of the literature dealing with theories of embryogenesis relating to SCM, the common clinical and radiological features, and finally the surgical options available.