Spinal dysraphism usually presents at birth

vs

Cerebral palsy usually presents in childhood with missed milestones

SD presents with foot deformities and neuro abnormalities

• Male newborn who has lower limb paralysis and numbness with a full bladder, most consistent with a spinal cord injury affecting the lower extremities
• Spinal dysraphism = Type of neural tube defect
• Cerebral palsy: Delayed motor milestones, comorbid seizures/intellectual disability, abnormal muscle tone
• Muscular dystrophy: Waddling gait, hip weakness, Gower sign in a toddler

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Spinal dysraphism is an umbrella term for conditions involving incomplete fusion of the spine. This includes myelomeningocele (spina bifida aperta or open spina bifida), spina bifida occulta, diastematomyelia, lipomyelomeningocele, dermal sinus tract, tight filum terminale, and tethered spinal cord.