An accessory limb with lipomyelomeningocele in a male

Successful Treatment of Well-Developed Accessory Lower Limb Associated with Spinal Dysraphism

Accessory lower limb with spinal dysraphism are amongst the rarest known anomalies. We successfully managed a 5-months old female infant with surgical ablation of the accessory lower limb and repair of the associated large lipomyelomeningocele. A comprehensive review of the relevant literature was undertaken and presented herein. A classification system for accessory lower limb is also proposed.

Notomelia and related neural tube defects in a baby born in Niger: case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Notomelia associated with neural tube defects are rare diseases.

CASE REPORT

A baby was born in Niger with multiple congenital embryonic malformations on the posterior midline. The most rostral malformation was an accessory limb (polymelia) at the level of the lumbar vertebrae composed of two long bones, a foot and three toes. Accessory male genitalia were present at the base of this malformed accessory limb which had no apparent motor or sensory innervation. The second malformation was a sacral vestigial appendage with an adjacent dermal sinus opening onto the posterior midline and extending internally to the dura through a defect of the vertebral arches. From the published literature and this particular case, we conclude that notomelia is a rare clinical sequela of a neural tube defect (NTD) and is correctly classified as a dysraphic appendage.

CONCLUSION

The recent occurrence of three similar cases in the same ethnic group from Niger, three from consanguineous parents, suggests that genetic factors are likely to contribute significantly to the genesis of this syndrome, consistent with a recent report that mutation of the bovine NHLRC2 gene resulting in a V311A substitution at a highly conserved locus in the NHLRC2 protein is, when homozygous, causally associated with several forms of polymelia including notomelia, with heteropagus conjoined twinning and with other NTD-related embryonic malformations. Detailed genome-wide studies of children with dysraphic appendages are indicated.

Lumbosacral lipomyelomeningocele with anomalous osseous limb in a 3-month-old female

A patient with lipomyelomeningocele (known in utero) presented for MRI characterization prior to surgical procedure at three months of age. Cross-sectional imaging revealed a spinal dysraphism of the lower lumbar spine, with a posterior spinal defect spanning L4 to S2 subcutaneous fat intrusion, and distal spinal cord extrusion. An osseous excrescence was also appreciated, articulating with the left iliac bone. This case demonstrates the youngest known lipomyelomeningocele with accessory limb and the abnormal growth of multiple tissue types at the site of spinal dysraphism-a potential consequence of dedifferentiated cell proliferation originating from a secondary neural tube defect or rachipagus parasitic twinning.

Lumbosacral parasitic twin associated with lipomeningomyelocele: a rare occurrence

Lumbosacral parasitic twin is an extremely rare entity. About 200 cases have been reported in the literature. It may be associated with neural tube defects. We encountered a 3-day-old female child with this presentation, who was successfully operated on at the age of about 2 months. Being an uncommon entity, it is presented here.