An Infant with Lipomyelomenigocele: A case study and Nurses’ Roles

Abstract

Lipomyelomenigocele is rarely occurred in neonates; however, it is complicated abnormality and leads to consequences of neurological functions regarding to the controls of elimination and leg movement.  Lipomyelomenigocele is a congenital abnormality in neurological system which has lipoma attached to spinal cords that have not yet closed.  Physical examination usually revealed abnormal lumps in the subcutaneous layer on the middle of the back. When infants have grown up and the treatment is not provided, infants will introduce signs of the tethered cord syndrome. Diagnosis of Lipomyelomenigocele requires clinical signs and symptoms as well as the results of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The specific report of ultrasound and MRI elucidates lumps of lipoma on the back that communicated through the spinal canal and attached to the spinal cord.The occurrence of Lipomyelomenigocele often affects the nervous system functions regarding the controls of leg movement, urinary, and excretory systems. Surgical procedures are the most common treatment which used to remove fatty masses from nerves and suture to close vertebraes that have not yet closed.Nurses have important roles to provide nursing caring for patients during hospitalization for both in monitoring preoperative and postoperative potential complications. These nursing implications aim to diminish neurological complications and enhance infants to grow up with optimal quality of life based on their developmental mile stone.