Do any of your children have a "butt dimple" and/or birthmark above it?

[kellyf2626]

Just curious.... my 5 month old son Brady has a "butt dimple" and then a birthmark right above that. A friend of mine brought her son for his 6 month check-up and he had the same type of thing. Her pedi had her get an immediate MRI on their son, and now he has been diagnosed with a form of spina bifida!! So, of course I am freaking out. I also have a butt dimple, so I always just kinda thought Brady's was genetic...but now I am worried. Just curious how prevelent this butt dimple thing is. I plan on calling my pedi tomorrow to have him looked at. But, she has seen his birthmark and was never concerned?

 

[Pop Daddy]

J I have a butt dimple,

pic

 

[denisenh]

is it a pilonidal cyst?

 

[java]

Relax. My friend has a child with Spina Bifida. She was born with the HOLE to her spine- not a dimple.
His butt "dimple" was probably more pronounced than what you are seeing in your child. Don't panic.

 

[denisenh]

Here I found this for you:

The "congenital" camp suspects that all Pilonidals are the result of poor formation of the lower spine during gestation. There are babies born with what is medically called "Pilonidal Dimple", "Sacral Dimple" or "Pilonidal Sinus". While there is not much solid information, the primary suspect is thought to be Spina Bifida Occulta, which is a much milder form of Spina Bifida.


From this web site:

http://www.pilonidal.org/

(I had heard of it once and it stuck with me)

 

[phamton]

Yes, I have heard of that. When my husband had neck surgery, he was told that he had the mild form of SB. "Spina bifida occulta is the mildest form of spina bifida (occulta means hidden). Most children with this type of defect never have any health problems. The spinal cord is often unaffected." He was a gymnast and also did track and football. He does have a very light birthmark which is what the doctor first noticed. He then had an MRI done and it was confirmed. He is 57 years old and still very athletic. His neck problems were not related to the SB. You can read more about the signs which do include dimples and/or birthmarks.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/spina_bifida.html

Several other sites said this form may occur as often as 24% of the population.

"Spina bifida occulta is the mildest and most common form. The spinal defect is hidden under the skin and does not usually cause problems or need treatment. Doctors estimate that 10% to 24% of the general population unknowingly have this spinal defect. In some cases, a dimple, depression, birthmark, or hairy patch forms over the skin where more than one vertebrae is affected. This is referred to as occult spinal dysraphism (OSD)" http://health.yahoo.com/nervous-overview/spina-bifida-topic-overview/healthwise--hw169958.html

 

[kellyf2626]

pic

HAHA....you wish....

is it a pilonidal cyst?

I just googgled this and saw pics and pretty sure it's not this....

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

My oldest DD has one. She was checked for spina bifida at birth, and they checked to make sure it was not open.

My cousin has one also. She has occult spina bifida. The only problems she had were during puberty. Will Mady have issues--time will tell.

 

[kellyf2626]

Denise and Phamton....thank you so much for the info.

Mady/Sophiemom...thank you for sharing. I have never had any issues with mine, so here's hoping my son won't either. I know to check for spina bifida he would have to have an MRI (which would mean putting him under general anesthesia at 5 months old). So....since he is normal and healthy right now....I would rather not do that, KWIM?

 

[southernbelle_amy]

before doing an MRI, they may could also do an Ultrasound to make sure it is closed, I would mention this to their Peditrician and have them decide.

 

[PaulaSue]

My youngest has one. She had a 2 vessel cord in womb and after a lot of "thoughts" a MRI confirmed it was scoliosis (?). IT was a Very Scary pregnancy and a few months after but it could have been worse, Know what I mean. I had so many tests and u/s and she has a great specialist! I think everyone knows me and the girls at the hospital and all of the relating offices.

I hope your DC will be okay!!!

 

[PaulaSue]

Denise and Phamton....thank you so much for the info.

Mady/Sophiemom...thank you for sharing. I have never had any issues with mine, so here's hoping my son won't either. I know to check for spina bifida he would have to have an MRI (which would mean putting him under general anesthesia at 5 months old). So....since he is normal and healthy right now....I would rather not do that, KWIM?

Ash had to do that too. She was 3 months at the time and they had to get a NICU specialist to do the anestesia because of her veins being so small. IT really is not that bad (I was with her until she was on the MRI table but for her crying when they were sticking her with the IV) and when they got me and she woke up it was like nothing happened.

We go to the speciallist every few years to double check everything and get a few x-rays.

 

[tuckerkeys]

a dimple and birthmark in that area
could be a sign of what is a tethered cord, not spina bifida. it is a cousin of spina bifida. a simple ultrasound should be ordered by your ped first, THEN an mri is ordered if there are any suspisions....after 6+ months of age though an ultrasound is not available & you have to have an mri, so hurry up! it is a very rare thing to see so i'm sure your baby is ok...it is operable if it is somethig like this do not worry....

 

[rbuzzotta]

My DD, now almost 12 has spina bifida occulta at T-11 and L-3. I noticed the 'dimple' with a small tuft of hair when she was 6 months old. We chose to wait as she was progressing in a normal manner. AT the age of 7 she began complaining of back aches. WE did blood work and then an Xray confirmed that she was missing the spinous process at T-11 and L-3. We saw a specialist at Children's in Boston.

She is growing fine but does still have back problems. She does not carry a heavy backpack and I have a plan in school for her to have an extra set of books at home due to the back problems. She can excuse herself from gym class if she is sore. She is not one to complain or 'mild' the problem. She did cheerleading and even tumbled and now she snowboards and plays softball.

It is my understanding that this is very common and most do not realize they have spina bifida occulta unless they need and xray!!

best wishes.

 

[maelstrom]

I have a pilonidal dimple. The only issue I've ever had with it is that it makes it look like I have an abnormally long buttcrack.

My mother says that when I was little I called it a "pionidle dintle". I also called my buttcrack a "hiney seam", so.