Rachipagus: A report of two cases - Thoracic and Lumbar

Abstract

We present two cases of rachipagus in two male infants and review the literature on this anomaly. These infants were from consanguineous marriages and cases of twins were reported in their families. In the first case it was a limb attached to the lower lumbar region with a rudimentary posterior arch. At the junction there was a lipomeningocele. Anatomical dissection of the limb identified the bones of the lower limb. In the second case, the parasites were joints of the upper limb that were attached to the chest by rudimentary posterior arches. In both cases there was only one spinal canal and a single spinal cord. Except the spina bifida in the first case no other malformation was diagnosed. The parasites were successfully excised. The two patients are well at one year of follow-up. Rachipagus is a rare embryogenic malformation with a good prognosis in the absence of associated congenital anomalies.