The ABC Homeopathy Forum

Sacral dimple in toddler, minor spina bifida?

My 19-month-old has a deep dimple in the gluteal crease, which usually isn't a problem from what I've read, except that we can't see the bottom of it. He's had it since he was born, but the midwife and the doctor both acted like it was nothing since it was close to the anus instead of in the lower back.

There's never been any fluid leakage so chances are it isn't a hole, but I can't really tell. I really don't want to have to take him to a doctor as they will just want to do an MRI (standard procedure for his age and condition to check if the spinal cord is tethered or not), which I'd rather avoid, if possible. Although, if the cord were tethered it could get worse as he gets older and cause a lot of problems. It's pretty rare, though, and if it were just a hole or deep dimple then they'd just suture it.

Does anybody know anything about this, or if any remedy is indicated in cases like this? He has always been a pretty typical Calcarea Carbonica baby, but I can reply with specifics if anyone needs more info.

Thanks,
Shayla

happyvegan on 2005-06-19

This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.

Happyvegan,

At his age, I think the best bet is to take him to a pediatrician and see what the doc says, *especially* if he has problems moving his lower limbs -- you didn't say if he did or not.

I understand an MRI scan can be very frightening for such a small child (I had one as an adult and it was a bit scary), but if that is the only way to diagnose and therefore treat the birth defect, it would be best to have it done.

Here's a link for information on spina bifida:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/spina_bifida/spina_bifida...

I wish you the very best, and I hope and pray your son does NOT have spina bifida.

Good health to you and yours! :-)

Orume last decade

Well, he didn't start walking until 13 months, but he was climbing (and crawling, of course) way before that, and at 19 months can walk and run very well. He has no outward symptoms except this dimple. My main concern, since the location of the dimple usually isn't a problem and there is no leakage, is that I can't see the base of the dimple (although he won't really stay still for me to check it out very closely either). I've been reading and sometimes a doctor can tell under bright lights and magnification (or sometimes ultrasound) if there's a base to the dimple or not, so I guess I'm going to have to hunt up a pediatrician to get a check up. I guess it can't hurt to go to an office visit, at least.

Thanks for the advice!

happyvegan last decade

You're very welcome, Happyvegan! :-)

You're right -- it never hurts to check w/ a doctor, you can always decide what to do (if anything) later, after a proper diagnosis. :-)

Take care, and I wish you and your son the very best!

Orume last decade

I know your post was written a year ago. But I just now read it. I was also born with the same sacral dimple and although many doctors saw it, they did not think it was significant. I was finally diagnosed with lipomyelomeningocele (an occult spina bifida) and the deterioration is unpleasant and PERMANENT. I had many x-rays in the past and none of them ever revealed any thing wrong. The only way they could see it was with the MRI. The fact that the dimple has a 'bottom' does not matter. Mine had a bottom to the hole. What matters is that the (in my case) the tissue around the sac of nerve tissue was in the space between the spine and the skin of the bottom, and attached inwardly to the skin, made a pulling which makes the dimple. Please don't let doctors dissuade you from getting it checked out and fixed. The problems associated with it develop very gradually and are permanent. Good Luck.

medoris last decade

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