MRI in the evaluation of spina bifida patients in the remote period after meningomyelocele repair.

MRI was performed on 22 patients ranging in age from 3 months to 16 years who had closure of their meningomyelocele shortly after birth. These patients had developed new clinical findings suggestive of spinal cord dysfunction. MRI showed low placement of the spinal cord in all 22. Six patients had lipomas, five had diastematomyelia and six had hydromyelia. Four patients had an obviously dysplastic terminal cord.