Bhubaneswar — Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar has treated a three-year-old boy diagnosed with spinal lipomyelomeningocele, a rare congenital spinal disorder, the hospital said.
The child, from Jaleswar in Balasore district, had experienced difficulty passing urine and stools since birth. Over time, his left leg became thinner and weaker, indicating progressive neurological involvement. Spinal lipomyelomeningocele is a closed neural tube defect in which a fatty mass extends through a spinal defect and attaches to the spinal cord, potentially leading to nerve damage, limb weakness and bladder or bowel dysfunction if untreated.
According to the hospital, the child had earlier been advised to delay surgery until age three. After evaluation at Manipal Hospital, including MRI and X-rays to assess spinal tethering and nerve involvement, a surgical procedure was planned under the care of Dr. Ritesh Bhoot, Consultant Neurosurgeon.
During the operation, the surgical team used neuromonitoring and microsurgical techniques to separate nerve roots from the fatty mass, remove the lipoma and release the tethered spinal cord, the hospital said.
The child is recovering and undergoing rehabilitation to improve limb strength and bladder control. Doctors said they are monitoring his neurological recovery.
Dr. Bhoot said early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are important in preventing permanent neurological damage in such cases.
