Children's Hospital Colorado

A Closer Look at Sacral Dimples (S6:E28)

How do you know if a sacral dimple needs a closer look? Sacral dimples, a congenital condition, can be nothing at all or may indicate something more serious, such as tethered cord syndrome, dermal sinus tract or spina bifida occulta. 

Listen to pediatric experts discuss sacral dimples

In this episode, Mark Erickson, MD, explains how to evaluate sacral dimples and when providers should run more tests or refer to a specialist.

Dr. Mark Erickson is the Medical Director of the Spine Center and the Pediatric Orthopedics Fellowship Director at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He is also a professor in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

In this episode, our experts discuss:

  • Importance of depth and location of sacral dimples
  • Indications for imaging and referring to a specialist
  • Guidelines for when to use an MRI or ultrasound
  • Observational timeline for discovering sacral dimples
  • Use of probes during evaluations
  • Most common over- and under-referrals

Listen here or on your podcast platform of choice, including SpotifyApple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Pediatric orthopedic care at Children’s Colorado

At Children's Colorado, we're committed to helping all healthcare professionals improve the quality of life for children with orthopedic conditions. Get the latest in pediatric orthopedics from our Orthopedics Institute to better your practice and learn about innovation within our various programs.

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