Ultrasound Evaluation of Spinal Cord in Newborns with Sacral Pit

Sacral pit is a shallow or deep dimple in the lower sacral region, with a reported prevalence of 3-5% among newborns. The aim of the present study was to investigate spinal cord abnormalities in newborns with sacral pit via ultrasound examinations.
In this descriptive study, 3071 infants born at 34-42 weeks of gestation were studied in hospitals affiliated to Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, Iran during 2014-2015. Information including age, sex, and birth weight was recorded in a questionnaire. Infants with a sacral pit underwent ultrasonography; spinal shape and mobility in these infants were compared with their healthy counterparts. For statistical analysis, data were entered to Microsoft Excel software. Chi-square and student’s t-test were performed, using SPSS version 20.
Based on the findings, 1.6% of the studied infants were born with a sacral pit. The weight and age were not significantly different between healthy neonates and those with a sacral pit. The prevalence of sacral pit was higher in female cases (54.2%), although there was no significant difference between the genders. Ultrasound examination of the spinal cord revealed its normal position and motility in all newborns with a sacral dimple.
The present results showed the normal shape and motility of the spinal cord in newborns with a sacral pit. Therefore, there was no correlation between sacral pit as a cutaneous marker and neural tube defects.