- Ultrasound spinal canal first 3–4 months: Ultrasound can be used in the early neonatal and infant period for the evaluation of suspected spinal dysraphism. It can only be used prior to ossification of the posterior elements, which prevents the transmission of ultrasound waves. From a practical point of view, this means that use of ultrasound is limited to the first three or four months of life.




- Confirmatory MRI: If there is a high index of suspicion of spinal pathology, even a normal ultrasound should be followed by MRI, since pathology can be missed on ultrasound (3).