Diastematomyelia: A Critical Survey of 24 Cases Submitted to Laminectomy

Abstract

In a series of 60 consecutive cases of spina bifida occulta submitted to laminectomy because of abnormality of the spinal cord or cauda equina, diastematomyelia was found in 24, and these cases are surveyed. Thirteen cases had separate dural tubes for each spinal cord and in every case there was a dor si-ventral extradural septum as well; 11 had a single dural tube enclosing both spinal cords and none had a septum between. The clinical appearances in these 24 cases of diastematomyelia show no characteristic to distinguish them from the other 36 in the series. It is the accompanying extrinsic lesion affecting the spinal cord that is of clinical importance and not the diastematomyelia.