Diastematomyelia: a critical review of the natural history and treatment.

Twenty-eight children whose diastematomyelia had been diagnosed at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, were reviewed with respect to presenting symptoms, treatment, and outcome. Two children suffered significant neurologic damage during prophylactic removal of their bone spurs. Three children underwent spinal correction under traction with their bony spurs in situ without suffering any neurologic sequelae. The morbidity and mortality of surgical removal of bone spurs was considered and the traditional approach to this condition questioned.