Question
Hello,
Our daughter is 14 months old. She isn't walking,"cruising" along things, and she has never crawled. She scoots on her bottom to get to where she is going. Recently she has been losing all control of her body and falling over (while scooting or just sitting and playing). Her pediatrician order an MRI on her brain and lumbar spine. Last Friday we went to the Dr. office and discussed the MRI results. Her pediatrician told us that our daughter has a condition that she has never seen before, she couldn't tell us much about this, she didn't have a name for this, she did know that this is a very rare condition. She told us that the sac where the spinal fluid communicates is very abnormally large, as it is putting alot of pressure on the spinal cord. We have been refered to Children's Hospital Neurosurgeons, but have not yet recieved the phone call with the appointment date. IF you have any ideas as to what this condition might be. Please let me know. Thank You!

Answer
Jennifer;

I know it's frustrating.  Scooting on the butt isn't necessarily a sign of anything... our neighbors kid slid around on one leg like a professional curler!  However, losing control of the body, falling over... not so much.  

Without the actual pictures of the MRI and without an exaM, I'm afraid I can't help very much.  MAking the appointment with a neuroligist is the best thing you can do here. You and your child will stay in my prayers for an easy and quick solution to these issues.

Dr. Peter Carr
Seattle, Washington