Aim: The filum terminale is a fibrovascular structure formed of long bundles of 5-20 micron thickness bound to each other with collagen bands. The filum terminale ends between L5 and S3. Our aim in this study, the aim is to sonographically identify normal filum terminale thickness in newborns.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study included a total of 500 healthy mature newborn cases, comprising 250 males and 250 females. Sonographic Investigations were completed in the decubitus position, with all vertebrae and spinal cord from the cervical region to the sacral region screened in transverse and sagittal planes with cord pulsation and conus medullaris level assessed. The filum terminale thickness was measured a mean of 1.5 cm from the conus medullaris in the sagittal plane using ultrasound, with the mean calculated from three different measurements. Mean values were calculated for all of the cases and separately according to sex. Comparison between the groups was completed with the Independent Samples T test Bootstrap results.
Results: The maximum- minimum values for age were 30- 3 days for males, 30- 1 day for females and 30- 1 day for all newborns The filum terminale thickness was 1.04±0.24 mm in males, 1.06±0.17 mm in males and 1.05±0.21 mm for all newborns. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups according to sex.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the mean filum terminale thickness in newborns was measured as 1.05 mm. This value is important as a threshold value for the diagnosis of pathologies causing thickening of the filum terminale.
Key words: Newborn; Ultrasound; Filum Terminale.
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