[Aortographic findings in children with myelomeningocele and lumbar kyphosis].

The findings in abdominal aortography performed preoperatively in 21 children with myelomeningocele (MMC), which underwent kyphectomy due to congenital kyphosis of the lumbar spine, are reported. In no case did the aorta follow the kyphotic radius of curvature. It rather seemed to be strung over the kyphosis like a tendon over a bow. An intraoperative lesion of the aorta seems rather unlikely, and this is why we believe, that a routinely performed preoperative abdominal aortography is not necessary. We found a remarkable number of anomalies of the intercostal and segmental arteries, which were only in part associated with deformities of the vertebral bodies. The kidneys seemed to be imbedded in the kyphotic concavity, partially with the inferior pole, partially in whole. In these cases the risk of intraoperative lesion seems higher. We found a number of cases with unilateral agenesis of the kidneys in the patients examined by us. Therefore we suggest the use of noninvasive methods prior to surgery in order to evaluate the presence of malpositions or malformations of the kidneys.