Spondylocostal dysostosis with lipomyelomeningocele: Case report and review of the literature

Spondylocostal dysostosis (SCDO) is rare anomaly caused due to flawed embryological development of the axial skeleton during preliminary stages of gravidity, characterized by malformed vertebral column and ribs, abridged thorax and kyphoscoliosis. This entity was also reported as a "Jarcho-Levin syndrome" eponym by erstwhile authors, before the introduction of genetic based classification. A literature review showed only three cases of this clinical entity with lipomyelomeningocele. We report the fourth case report of an infant with SCDO with lipomyelomeningocele. His chest X-ray displayed absent left side 6(th)-8(th) ribs with peculiar fan like configuration, making the heart vulnerable to any direct injury. Special care has to be taken for such patients who need surgical procedure in the prone position.