Incidence of Occult Spinal Dysraphism Among Infants With Cutaneous Stigmata and Proportion Managed With Neurosurgery

Key Points Question What is the incidence of occult spinal dysraphism (OSD) in neonates or infants with various cutaneous stigmata, and how many of these cases are managed with a neurosurgical intervention? Findings In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies involving 6558 patients, the pooled proportion of OSD among cases with cutaneous stigmata was 2.8%, and in 0.6% of patients, the condition was managed with neurological surgery. A stronger association with OSD was found in patients with combined stigmata and atypical dimple. Meaning The findings of this study suggest that although the risk of OSD and the proportion of cases managed by neurosurgery were low, the characteristics of any cutaneous stigmata should be carefully evaluated in neonates or infants with midline cutaneous stigmata.