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Treatment Sacral dimple is often just an aesthetic and cosmetic defect that requires correction. This is necessary if the bulge of tissue is formed above the dimple, but usually the defect becomes unnoticeable. There is no special treatment.
What is the treatment for sacral dimple?
Sacral dimples are usually identified during the routine neonatal physical examination, and further investigations may not be required in the case of a typical sacral dimple. However, if your doctor notices any abnormal skin changes near the sacral dimple, they might recommend the following tests to rule out spinal cord problems.
How are Sacral dimples identified in babies?
If the dimple doesn’t seem complicated on clinical exam, there is no need for ultrasound assessment. Ultrasound is only indicated if the sacral dimple is more than 5mm in depth and more than 25 mm from the anus.
Do I need an ultrasound for a sacral dimple?
The mother was counseled that the dimple probably would not go away, but that it may become less noticeable as the child grew and was unlikely to cause any problem. Skin dimples over the spine commonly referred to as sacral dimples are common minor congenital anomalies, estimated to occur in 3-8% of children.
Will a sacral dimple go away on its own?
Where is the sacral dimple?
A sacral dimple is an indentation in the skin on the lower back — usually just above the crease between the buttocks. Most sacral dimples are small and shallow. A sacral dimple consists of an indentation, or "pit," in the skin on the lower back, just above the crease between the buttocks.
What are the symptoms of a sacral dimple?
Signs and symptoms may include weakness or numbness in the legs and bladder or bowel incontinence . The risks of these spinal problems increase if the sacral dimple is accompanied by a nearby tuft of hair, skin tag or certain types of skin discoloration. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
Is a sacral dimple a tuft of hair?
Most sacral dimples are harmless and don't require any treatment. Sacral dimples that are accompanied by a nearby tuft of hair, skin tag or certain types of skin discoloration are sometimes associated with a serious underlying abnormality of the spine or spinal cord.
What is a Sacral Dimple?
Sacral dimples are small pits or indentations that are present in a baby at the time of birth in the lower back near the crease just above or within the buttocks. It can be also defined as the formation of shallow or deep cleft-like formation or depressions which is present at the lower sacral region near or within the natal cleft.
Types of Sacral Dimples
These are the harmless dimples that are found near or within the crease of the buttocks in the lower region of the back.
Causes of Sacral Dimple
Since it is a congenital disorder the exact cause of the sacral dimples is not known. The reasons are unknown which causes sacral dimple during fetus development.
Symptoms of Sacral Dimple
A small pit or depression in the area of buttocks within or above the crease is a sacral dimple. It is very superficial and the bottom can be determined very easily.
Diagnosis of Sacral Dimple
For simple sacral dimples or typical sacral dimples with no spinal problems and no history, further diagnosis and treatment are unnecessary.
Complications
Simple sacral dimples are harmless. But the deeper depressions can affect directly the spinal cord and colon. This may lead to a chronic rash. Such cases should be treated by closing the dimples.
Outlook
Most people live a normal life with sacral dimples. Rarely they could be problematic causing spinal defects. Even with these problems, they have only mild symptoms.
What does a sacral dimple look like?
Sacral dimple looks like a small pit on baby’s lower back, above the buttocks in the midline. This condition is completely asymptomatic, some people become aware of it accidentally in young age. It is usually no deeper than a few millimetres.
What are the complications of sacral dimple?
Possible complications include: Tethering to the spinal cord. Damage to the centres for voiding and bowel discharge. Compression on the nerves on both sides of the spinal cord.
How deep is a sacral dimple?
Usually, the sacral dimple is less than 5 mm in depth and approximately 25mm away from the anus. These criteria are specific for uncomplicated sacral dimples. If they are more than 5 mm in depth and more than 25 mm away from anus, there is a chance for associated abnormalities underneath. There is a risk that spinal dysraphism ocultus is present ...
What causes spinal dimples?
There is a problem with coalescing of the bones, cartilage, muscles, skin half part sides, which then creates the gaps or a defect between.
What is a pilonidal cyst?
Pilonidal cyst. Small pit, sacral dimple, with or without possible associated signs. The first three are actually present later in life but at young age in most of the cases, and should be differentiated from each other.
Do you need an ultrasound for a dimple?
It also good to evaluate position, tone, muscle strength of both legs, and the function of the bladder and bowel discharging. If the dimple doesn’t seem complicated on clinical exam, there is no need for ultrasound assessment.
Is sacral dimple a cosmetic defect?
Treatment. Sacral dimple is often just an aesthetic and cosmetic defect that requires correction. This is necessary if the bulge of tissue is formed above the dimple, but usually the defect becomes unnoticeable. There is no special treatment. The sacral dimple may become infected which than requires treatment.
What is the differential diagnosis of sacral mass?
Differential diagnosis upon initial evaluation included infectious, structural, and neoplastic etiologies (Table). Infectious concerns of a sacral mass include pilonidal cyst or another infection confluent with the spinal cord. Pilonidal cyst most commonly affects adult men but the possibility remains in infants. 1
What is spinal lipoma?
Finally, spinal lipoma is fat within the spinal cord related to abnormal migration of mesodermal cells that may present as a midline mass and is associated with symptoms related to spinal cord compression or tethered cord. 4.
Where are sacral dimples located?
Sacral dimples can be “typical” or “atypical”. Typical dimples are found at the skin on the lower back near the buttocks crease. No other skin changes are seen. Atypical dimples may be located higher up on the back or off to the side.
What are some examples of sacral dimples?
This risk is higher if the dimple has atypical features. Examples include: Tethered spinal cord - Normally the spinal cord hangs freely within the spinal canal. In tethered cord, there is tissue attached to the spinal cord that limits its movement.
What to do if your child has a dimple?
If your child has an atypical dimple, your doctor will likely recommend imaging with an ultrasound or MRI.
What is the name of the doctor who will examine a child's spine?
Sometimes your doctor will have your child see a spine specialist, called a neurosurgeon, to help determine when to perform imaging and which type is best for your child. If an underlying abnormality is found, the doctor will discuss with you whether any treatment is needed.
What is a lipoma in kids?
What are Pediatric Lipomas (Skin Lesions)? A lipoma is a lump of fat cells that forms just under the skin. They do not hurt and feel soft, squishy and moveable when pressed. The lumps can range in size and location on the body.
Can a child have more than one lipoma?
A child can have more than one lipoma on their body . They grow larger over time and typically occur more often and in greater quantities in boys. Lipomas may occur in the stomach, small intestine, oropharynx or esophagus and lead to complications including bleeding and obstruction.
Can lipomas be removed?
Lipomas that cause symptoms should be removed. Minimally invasive methods that use tissue dissection are effective, as is liposuction in large lipomas. Whether excision or enucleation is used, capsules must be removed completely, otherwise lipomas might reoccur.
Can lipomas be pedunculated?
Duodenal or colonic lipomas may be pedunculated and could cause obstruction or intussusception. Lipomas rarely occur on the endocrine, adrenal, pancreas or parathyroid glands. Maxillofacial lipomas most often are intralingual or orbitonasal. Lipomas that involve the cardiovascular system present treatment challenges.
What Is Sacral Dimple?
- A sacral dimple is an indentation, present at birth, in the skin on the lower back. It's usually located just above the crease between the buttocks. Most sacral dimples are harmless and don't require any treatment. Sacral dimples that are accompanied by a nearby tuft of hair, skin tag or certain types of skin discoloration are sometimes associated ...
Causes
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
The Case
- There are no known causes or risk factors of spinal dimple development, but the development of spinal dysraphism, which is somewhat similar condition, is known. There is a problem with coalescing of the bones, cartilage, muscles, skin half part sides, which then creates the gaps or a defect between. It can be developed with the same mechanisms, one of them is not enough foli…
History and Examination
- Sacral dimple looks like a small pit on baby’s lower back, above the buttocks in the midline. This condition is completely asymptomatic, some people become aware of it accidentally in young age. It is usually no deeper than a few millimetres. There could be some hair follicles, hyperpigmentation, swelling, skin tags, lipid tissue, hemangiomas (vascular benign tumours) or …
Differential Diagnosis
- A doctor needs to thoroughly examine the sacral dimple and decide how to proceed. It also good to evaluate position, tone, muscle strength of both legs, and the function of the bladder and bowel discharging. If the dimple doesn’t seem complicated on clinical exam, there is no need for ultrasound assessment. Ultrasound is only indicated if the sacral dimple is more than 5mm in d…
Diagnosis
- Sacral dimple is often just an aesthetic and cosmetic defect that requires correction. This is necessary if the bulge of tissue is formed above the dimple, but usually the defect becomes unnoticeable. There is no special treatment. The sacral dimple may become infected which than requires treatment. Possible complications include: 1. Tethering to t...
Pilonidal Cyst in Infancy
- A 3-week-old female presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of a progressively enlarging, erythematous, seemingly painful lump on her back. One week prior, the parents had noticed a small bump at the base of the child’s tailbone. Over the past 3 days, the area had grown significantly. The infant had been otherwise asymptomatic wi...
Patient Outcome
- The patient’s history was notable for birth at 36 weeks, 5 days, by cesarean delivery because of maternal preeclampsia and fetal heart rate decelerations. The child then spent 5 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for observation of neonatal hypoglycemia as well as hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy. The mother reported normal prenatal care and unrem…
Conclusion
- Differential diagnosis upon initial evaluation included infectious, structural, and neoplastic etiologies (Table). Infectious concerns of a sacral mass include pilonidal cyst or another infection confluent with the spinal cord. Pilonidal cyst most commonly affects adult men but the possibility remains in infants.1 Structural concerns are especially pertinent in neonates and infants, althou…