Bone mineral density in pediatric patients with meningomyelocele.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the bone mineral density (BMD) and the factors leading to reduction in BMD in children diagnosed with meningomyelocele.

METHODS

A total of 31 patients with meningomyelocele (mean (SD) age, 8.5 (3.9) years; 51.6%were females) and 22 healthy children were included. BMD of femoral neck and spinal L1– L4 levels and markers for bone metabolism were recorded.

RESULTS

BMD of femoral neck (p=0.001) and spinal L1–L4 (p = 0.01), serum calcium (p = 0.031), and urinary deoxypyridinoline (p=0.015) levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Mobilization was significantly reduced in lumbar (p=0.001) and thoracic (p=0.002) level meningomyelocele compared to controls, while a significant positive correlation was noted between BMD of spinal L1–L4 and mobility (r=0.58, p=0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest a decrease in BMD in meningomyelocele patients being associated with osteoporosis rather than nutritional and hormonal factors and the negative impact of higher levels of lesion on the mobility.