Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate
Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
Note: [] Correspondence: Prof. Raj Kumar, Department of Neurosurgery,
Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow-226014,
U.P., India. Tel.: +91 522 2668700, 2668800; Mobile: +91 9450610933; Fax: +91
522 2668129 and 2668017; E-mail: rajkumar1959@gmail.com; rajkumar@sgpgi.ac.in
Abstract: Situs inversus (also called situs transversus) is a rare congenital
condition in which the major visceral organs are reversed or mirrored from
their normal positions. The association of spinal dyraphism with situs inversus
totalis is rare and only few cases have been reported till date. The authors
report an infant who presented with meningomyelocele, with split cord
malformation type-1 and situs inversus totalis. It is hypothesized that defects
of the midline and laterality defects (e.g., situs inversus) are etiologically
related and determining genetic locus or implicating various chemical agents
that are known to produce situs inversus independently, as the causative factor
for spinal dysraphism would further enhance our understanding about the
pathogenesis of the above conditions and hence help in better management. A
thorough physical examination supplemented by imaging studies of the entire
neuraxis with a high index of suspicion for associated developmental
abnormalities in a patient with congenital spinal abnormality is necessary.
Keywords: Situs inversus totalis, split cord malformation, meningomyelocele
