Sacral Dimple – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Sacral dimples are small depressions in the skin located on a baby’s lower back. They typically appear just above where the buttocks meet.
Most of these natural indentations are completely harmless and require no medical intervention. However, certain characteristics may warrant closer examination by a healthcare professional.
These include:
- Large size
- Presence of hair tufts nearby
- Accompanying skin tags
- Nearby lumps
- Discoloration in the surrounding area
When these warning signs appear, doctors may recommend imaging tests to check for potential spinal issues. If tests reveal an underlying problem, treatment will be tailored to address the specific condition.
Regular check-ups with your child’s healthcare provider can help ensure proper monitoring of any sacral dimples.
Symptoms
A sacral dimple looks like a small dent or hole in the skin of the lower back. This indentation in the skin is present at birth.
Causes
Sacral dimples are present from birth. Doctors have not found any specific reasons why these small depressions form at the base of the spine. The condition simply develops during fetal growth, with no identified triggers or risk factors.
Risk Factors
Sacral dimples may occur in some newborns without any health issues. However, certain factors increase the chance of developing this condition:
- Spinal cord problems, especially tethered cord syndrome
- In tethered cord syndrome, the spinal cord cannot move freely within the spinal canal
- Some babies are born with sacral dimples as a normal variation with no underlying issues
These risk factors don’t necessarily mean a baby with a sacral dimple will have complications.
Possible Complications
Sacral dimples, while normally harmless, can sometimes signal serious spine or spinal cord issues. These complications, though rare, deserve attention from healthcare providers.
Spina bifida occulta is one potential complication. This mild form happens when the spine doesn’t fully close around the spinal cord, though the cord remains protected within the spinal canal.
Most people with this condition experience no symptoms and need no treatment.
Another possible complication is tethered cord syndrome. In a healthy spine, the spinal cord hangs freely within the spinal canal. With tethered cord syndrome, tissue attaches to the spinal cord and restricts its movement. This can cause several problems:
- Weakness in the legs
- Numbness in the legs
- Bladder incontinence
- Bowel incontinence
The risk of these spinal problems increases when certain warning signs appear near the sacral dimple:
| Warning Signs | Description |
|---|---|
| Hair tuft | Patch of hair growing near the dimple |
| Skin tag | Small flap of excess skin |
| Lump | Raised area near the dimple |
| Skin discoloration | Unusual coloring of the skin around the dimple |
When these warning signs appear alongside a sacral dimple, doctors typically recommend additional testing to rule out serious conditions. Imaging tests like ultrasound or MRI can help determine if the sacral dimple connects to deeper structures.
