The child had a bony defect in the spine.
Chennai: A six-month-old girl child from Iraq, diagnosed with split cord malformation type 1, a rare medical condition that occurs only in one among 1 lakh people, underwent a successful surgery at a private hospital in the city.
Doctors at Kauvery Hospital said baby Marayam Qasim Hadi was recovering fast and will fly back to her hometown on December 26. Dr R. Ragavendran, neurosurgeon (brain and spine surgeon) along with two neurosurgeons operated on the baby on December 17.
He said, “Our early identification helped in operating. Usually, parents identify the problem only when the child turns six or seven years of age.”
The child visited the hospital with a slightly longer left leg and had a bony defect in the spine in the lower back area. “The abnormal bony spur had grown through and split the spinal cord along with its covering and prevented the spinal cord from ascending to its final position,” explained Dr Ragavendran, adding that after ascertaining the problem, an attempt was made to completely excise the bony spur towards cure.
“The child has recovered fast, is taking proper feeds, passing urine and stools normally, moving both legs normally and is ready to get discharged. If left alone, the baby would have gradually developed weakness in the legs along with urinary and defecation problems. A review will be done after three months,” said the neurosurgeon.
