Congenital aplastic-hypoplastic lumbar pedicle in infants and young children.

Nine cases of congenital aplastic-hypoplastic lumbar pedicle (mean age 27 months) are described. Their data are compared to those of 18 other reported cases (mean age 24.7 years)and the following conclusions are made: (1) Almost exclusively, the pedicular defect in infants and young children is due to developmental anomaly rather than destruction by malignancy or infectious processes. (2) This anomaly, we think, is more common than it is believed to be. (3) Unlike adults, infants and young children rarely develop hypertrophy and/or sclerosis of the contralateral pedicle. (4) Detection of pedicular anomaly is more than satisfying a radiographic curiosity and may lead to discovery of other coexisting anomalies. (5) Ultrasonic screening of the patients with congenital pedicular defects may detect the associated genitourinary anomalies, if present, and justify further studies in a selected group of patients.