Infant Spine Ultrasound
(last edited 2/27/2019)
(last reviewed 2/27/2019)
(last edited 2/27/2019)
(last reviewed 2/27/2019)
INDICATIONS: Tethered cord, sacral dimple. (Infant should be 3 months old or younger)
- Place baby in prone position, over a rolled towel or pillow, legs flexed, head positioned higher to move CSF caudally. Be certain baby is warm. Good spinal flexion optimizes acoustic window. Lateral decubitus position or caregiver holding baby over the shoulder also works.
- Sagittal sacrum numbered S1 - S5
- Sagittal lumbar spine numbered L1 - L5
- Sagittal thoracolumbar junction numbered/labeled
- Sagittal, documenting location of conus (normal at or above L2 inferior endplate)
- Transverse S5, S4, S3, S2, S1, L5, L4, L3, L2, L1, T12
- Filum terminale (normally terminates around L5-S1) should be less than 2mm transverse at L5-S1 (provide measurement if abnormal). Filar cyst = anatomic variant.
- Document site of dimple trans and sag (label). Document any mass, cyst, or sinus tract if seen (trans, sag, Doppler, measurements). Document any abnormal cord morphology.
- There should be normal movement of the cord and nerve roots with respiration/cardiac cycle.
- Cauda equina nerve roots should be dependent within thecal sac.