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Information

Skull and Spine Disorders

= SPLIT CORD = MYELOSCHISIS [ diastema, Greek = slit, cleft]

= sagittal division of spinal cord into two hemicords, each containing a central canal, one dorsal horn + one ventral horn

Etiology: congenital malformation as a result of adhesions between ectoderm and endoderm; M÷F = 1÷3

Path:

  1. 2 hemicords each covered by layer of pia within single subarachnoid space + dural sac (60%); not accompanied by bony spur / fibrous band
  2. 2 hemicords each with its own pial, subarachnoidal + dural sheath (40%); accompanied by fibrous band (in 25%), cartilaginous / bony spurs (in 75%)

Associated with: myelomeningocele

Location: lower thoracic / upper lumbar >upper thoracic >cervical spine

Cx: progressive spinal cord dysfunction