Bone mineral density in pediatric patients with meningomyelocele

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the bone mineral density (BMD) and the factors leading to reduction in BMD in children diagnosed with meningomyelocele.

Methods

A total of 31 patients with meningomyelocele (mean (SD) age, 8.5 (3.9) years; 51.6 % were females) and 22 healthy children were included. BMD of femoral neck and spinal L1–L4 levels and markers for bone metabolism were recorded.

Results

BMD of femoral neck (p?=?0.001) and spinal L1–L4 (p?=?0.01), serum calcium (p?=?0.031), and urinary deoxypyridinoline (p?=?0.015) levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Mobilization was significantly reduced in lumbar (p?=?0.001) and thoracic (p?=?0.002) level meningomyelocele compared to controls, while a significant positive correlation was noted between BMD of spinal L1–L4 and mobility (r?=?0.58, p?=?0.015).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a decrease in BMD in meningomyelocele patients being associated with osteoporosis rather than nutritional and hormonal factors and the negative impact of higher levels of lesion on the mobility.