Association of bladder exstrophy with congenital pathology of the hip and lumbosacral spine: a long-term follow-up study of 13 patients.

The authors evaluated, clinically and radiographically, 13 of 28 patients with bladder exstrophy treated at their institution between 1964 and 1982. All had been treated with bilateral iliac osteotomies and pelvic rami reapproximation to assist in urologic repair. At skeletal maturity, the diastasis had partially recurred and the patients had short stature and were living normal lives. Mild acetabular dysplasia and other pelvic abnormalities were common, as were abnormal radiographic findings in the lumbosacral spine. Despite these findings, most did not affect function. These results support the need for pelvic reconstruction for urologic repair, as well as the need for periodic radiographic evaluation of the pelvis and lumbosacral spine. If present, these have the potential to adversely affect function as an adult.