Spinal dysraphism in the cervical and dorsal regions in childhood.

Spinal dysraphism entirely confined to the cervical or dorsal levels is uncommon. In a large series affecting all levels, only 26 such cases that required operation were found. These are described in order to determine their particular features which include a high incidence of expanding lesions (dermoid cyst and neurenteric cyst) and are therefore associated with a much higher risk of morbidity than dysraphism, at lower levels.