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Sacral dimples & chronic constipation: a likely connection?

13 replies

expatkat · 10/05/2004 22:34

Both ds and dd have sacral dimples, but dd's seems a bit worse. When she was born it didn't have a tuft of hair, but now it does, a fairly thick one. She also has one odd hair patch on the left side of her back. Since she was about a year old she's had diabolical constipation. I did a bit of a google search on sacral dimples and found that sometimes they can be associated with odd bowel symptoms including constipation. . .but I'm just now putting together a potential puzzle of spine-related causes for the constipation. She's only 19 months old, so too soon to tell if she had incontinence problems too. She walks fairly well, though her feet seem to veer inwards a touch. But she's strong, and today walked, holding my hand, from John Lewis to Mothercare on Oxford Street--and could have walked loads longer had it been necessary.

Does what I'm describing raise any red flags to anyone else out there whose chidren have sacral dimple or actual spinal problems?

OP posts:
ks · 10/05/2004 22:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

expatkat · 10/05/2004 22:45

It's a small hole at the base of the spine, but doesn't go through to the spine, as would be the case with spina bifida. I gather it's the ultra benign version of spina bifidathe hole at the base of the spine that almost didn't close, but ultimately did. Apparently 1-2% of babies are born with one. My MIL has one, so it would seem they run in dh's family. It doesn't cause pigeon-toedness as far as I know, but can be associated with an inability to put the heel down properly, and ligament problems in the ankles, back of the legsgeneral lower body weakness in bad (& rare) cases when the dimple is an indication of spina bifida occulta. There was a thread on this about a year ago. . .I guess I'm sort of continuing it with a different angle.

OP posts:
Tinker · 10/05/2004 23:24

Hi expatkat - my daughter has a sacral dimple but definitely doesn't have constipation, the opposite in fact . She was diagnosed with 'floppy' wrists when she was born so that is interesting about the ligament problems

SofiaAmes · 10/05/2004 23:56

My ds has what I think is a sacral dimple though no doctor/hv has ever commented on it (not that anyone has really examined him that closely). Anyway, he doesn't have constipation and walks very well.

Marina · 11/05/2004 09:14

expatkat, sorry to hear about her constipation. Dd has a sacral dimple that was marked enough at birth to get her referred for ultrasound and paed follow-up. The dimple wasn't hairy in itself but all of her behind was - luckily it has all dropped out now.
So far, at nine months she has not had constipation.
What you have posted about associated problems (mild when compared to frank or occult spina bifida, of course) is of great interest, expatkat...I'll be keeping an eye on dd's mobility and gait once she stops rolling about picking up carpet fluff.
You are presumably back in the UK if you've been frequenting John Lewis! Welcome back

Flip · 11/05/2004 09:25

When ds2 was born the peadiatrician took a very close look at his bottom. Where the top of the bum cheeks should be there's another dint. Is that the sort of thing you're talking about expatkat?

expatkat · 11/05/2004 13:11

Exactly, Flip. They ALMOST ALWAYS have no significance whateverI should make that really clear so no one else worries. My ds & mil have them, and they are completely fine. I'm only worried about dd's because it's hairy, which can be a sign of spina bifida occulta. . .and because it was never x-rayed because, not being hairy at the time of birth, it didn't look like a problem. I've decided to take her to the gp or paed just to be surebut I'm really not too worried.

Marina, I'm sure you have no reason to look out for any of those symptoms I described b/c your dd was x-rayed so she's "in the clear." (Thanks for the welcome. Returned 2 days ago.)

I really hope I haven't gotten anyone worried--sacral dimples in themselves are usually totally benign. My dd's is just a little different to what I'm used to & I'm grasping at straws re. the 9 months of constipation.

OP posts:
popsycal · 11/05/2004 20:05

ds has a small dimple - fine

niece has a bigger dimple which is hairy and you can almost not quite see the end of it
had loads of tests etc
she is fine.....

hope this reassures you
but do seek advice if yu need to

smellymelly · 11/05/2004 20:19

Ok I'm in a little shock... Ds has one (now 4.5) and I had no idea it was a possible link to spina bifida. No hair though, but the gp did check it a number of times.

No constipation either, ds has always been fine and now goes once a day. No problems with walking, started at 13 months.

I am freaked out though, is there a gene theory here as I'm pregnant again??

expatkat · 12/05/2004 00:14

Smellymelly, don't know if you saw my 2nd post: DON'T WORRY. I don't know if sacral dimples run in family's but they've appeared a few times in mine, and they are benign. I'm sorry I brought this up. I was hoping this thread would attract the attention of the mum who was on here a yr ago whose daughter had spina bifida occultawhich is completely different to spina bifida, by the wayand she (the dd) had probs walking and with urinary incontience etc. This is not the case for 99.9% of children with sacral dimples. And I'm sure if you've been taking folic acid in 1st trimester your child is fine. I was clinically depressed during my 1st trimester of pregnancy with dd and was literally starving myself and NOT taking folic acid with any regularity because I didn't care what happened to me or the baby, and still my dd does not have anything seriously wrong with her--just a sacral dimple with a tuft of hair, which, according to popsycal, is not necessarily indicative as a problem as I had thought. (Thanks for that popsycal!) I will hate myself if this thread stirs up loads of worries in people. It was just a little theory I had about my dd in a moment of paranoia.

OP posts:
ktheme · 18/09/2013 18:23

my daughter has 3 small dimples and a y shaped bum cleavage she also has bad fine and gross motor skills problems and bowel problems is there a link can anyone help

KKing14 · 09/02/2020 21:49

I know this is an old thread, but thought I’d share my experience anyway. DD is 2.5yrs old and has a sacral dimple (since birth). Have been told numerous times by numerous health professionals that it is nothing to worry about. However, I found some of these comments interesting because DD has suffered with chronic severe constipation since she started solids at 6 months old. Ended up in hospital one night and prescribed daily laxatives until no longer needed (still takes them very few days at 2.5 years old). She is now toilet trained (about 3 months ago) however has started to wet her pants multiple times a day. She has also recently been to a physio who said she has weak core strength and lower body strength. This should be easily rectified with exercises, but I thought it was interesting that you mentioned lower body weakness! I’m actually going to the doc today so will ask.

RareCoralOP · 24/10/2024 04:53

@KKing14 - what ended up happening with your daughter? I’m currently in the same boat as my LO is constantly constipated since starting solids at 6 months with a sacral dimple as well. I brought it up to her ped at her 4 month checkup and wasn’t concerned (prior to her starting solids) but wondering if there’s a correlation? I’ve been so limited on the foods I give her since I’m worried it’ll worsen the constipation. I’m also taking her to a chiropractor which does seem to help her go after visits, just nothing regular yet. Should. I be concerned about more issues in the future? TIA

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