Epidemiological Clinical and Profile of Cranio-spinal Dysraphisms in Madagascar

Cranio-spinal dysraphisms are a set of congenital malformations resulting from a defect in closing the neural tube during embryonic development. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological-clinical profile of these malformations in Madagascar. It was a retrospective, descriptive study and metacentric from January 01, 2016 to December 31, 2018; all cases of cranio-spinal dysraphisms seen in two neurosurgery centers in Madagascar. We have collected 32 cases of cranio-spinal dysraphisms. The hospital prevalence was 0.37%. Among these children, the mean age was 8.48 months with an extreme of 1 day to 6 years; there was a feminine predominance (53,12%), with a sex ratio of 0.88. The absence of maternal intake of folic acid, the intake of folic acid outside the recommended periods, the birth order of the children and maternal pathologies during pregnancy were found as etiology. Cranial topography predominated in 56.25% (18 cases) and 68.75% of the children were asymptomatic. An association with hydrocephalus was found in 31.25% of cases. Prevention of known risk factors is essential, antenatal diagnosis is important for early management and improved prognosis. The treatment is surgical.