Occult Spinal Dysraphism Treatment in India

Anika Bhatia, a 6-year-old girl from...

Anika Bhatia, a 6-year-old girl from a small town, was a bright and active child who loved dancing. Her parents, Rohan and Priya, first noticed a faint, hairy patch at the base of her spine when she was a baby, but their pediatrician assured them it was likely just a birthmark. As Anika grew, she began complaining of frequent, unexplained leg pains, especially after her dance classes. She also started developing a slight limp and had two episodes of nighttime bedwetting, which was unusual for her. Concerned, her parents took her to a pediatrician in the city, who referred them to a pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Mehta. After a detailed examination and an MRI, Dr. Mehta diagnosed Anika with Occult Spinal Dysraphism (OSD), specifically a tethered cord caused by a fatty filum terminale. He explained that the spinal cord was abnormally attached, stretching with her growth and causing the symptoms. He recommended a tethered cord release surgery to prevent permanent nerve damage. The surgery was scheduled quickly. Anika was scared of the hospital but the child-life specialists helped her understand the procedure with dolls. The surgery, a lumbar laminectomy and sectioning of the fatty filum, lasted three hours and was successful. Her post-operative recovery in the hospital involved managing pain and monitoring for CSF leaks. She had to avoid bending and twisting for six weeks. Within months, her leg pains vanished and her limp improved dramatically. The bedwetting resolved. Emotionally, Anika's parents were initially wracked with guilt for not acting sooner, but Dr. Mehta reassured them. After the surgery, their overwhelming emotion was relief and gratitude. Anika, now pain-free, returned to dancing with even more joy, and her family felt they had been given a second chance to protect her future.