Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbosacral Spine in Children with Chronic Constipation or Non-Retentive Fecal Incontinence: A Prospective Study

Objective

To determine the prevalence of lumbosacral spine (LSS) abnormalities in children with defecation disorders, intractable constipation, or non-retentive fecal incontinence (NRFI) and evaluate whether LSS abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are clinically detected by neurologic examination.

Study design

MRI of the LSS and complete neurologic examination by a pediatric neurologist blinded to the MRI results were performed in patients with intractable defecation disorders.

Results

Patients with intractable constipation (n = 130; 76 males; median age, 11 years; range, 6-18 years), and patients with NRFI (n = 28; 18 males; median age, 10 years; range, 7-15 years) participated. One occult spina bifida (OSB) and 3 terminal filum lipomas were found in patients with a normal neurologic examination. One patient had a terminal filum lipoma and neurologic complaints. Gluteal cleft deviation was found in 3 of 4 patients with LSS abnormalities. Neurosurgical treatment was not required in any patient during the 12-week follow-up.

Conclusions

MRI showed LSS abnormalities in 3% of patients with defecation disorders and normal neurologic examination, all of whom reported symptom relief at the 12-week follow-up without neurosurgical intervention. Thus, whether or not LSS abnormalities play a role in defecation disorders remains unclear.

LSS, Lumbosacral spine, MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging, NRFI, Non-retentive fecal incontinence, OSB, Occult spina bifida, TSE, Turbo spin echo