[Ultrasonography of the spine in infancy].

QUESTION: Based on a standardized technic and reliable attachment of the presented structures the suitability of spinal sonography as a screening-method in newborns and infants should be estimated.

METHODS

Enabled by the comparison of sonographic transverse and sagittal plains with identical anatomic sections of an infant corpse the anatomic structures of an healthy spine were associated, which was verified in the clinical use later on.

RESULTS

Exemplary photographs of a collective of 50 newborns and infants reproduce the presentation of the spine found in the preparation of the corpse. The technical practicability of such an examination in clinical use was confirmed herein and it became clear that the application of this method is limited from the 6.-8. months of living on because of the increasing ossification which involves a reduction of the image quality. The deviations from the spine presentation in normal relations were shown by some ultrasound examples of malformed spines (spinal dysraphism, hemivertebrae).

CONCLUSION

Reproducible attachment of the structures obviously seen with ultrasound and the clear demarcation of deformations as well as the simply practicable examination make evident the suitability of spinal sonography in newborns and infants as a noninvasive screening for the exclusion of spine malformations.