Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of congenital hemivertebra.

The prenatal sonographic diagnosis of spinal abnormalities associated with neural tube element malformations has been well described; however, the diagnosis of fetal skeletal anomalies of the vertebral bodies with a neurologically intact spine has received little attention. Three cases of congenital hemivertebra should alert the sonographer to search for other congenital defects and for orthopedic complications of vertebral body malformations in childhood. Prior knowledge of the presence of an abnormal vertebral body can alert the pediatrician to watch for early signs of problems such as scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis, and to plan surgery if necessary.