Text Box: REPAIRED DEFICIENCY OF VERTEBRAL LAMINA OF SPINA BIFIDA BY BONE-MUSCLE FLAPS Hu Yueguang, Yu Song, Fang Yong, et al. Department of Pediatrics Surgery of Affiliatecl Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Guizhou, China Objective: To investigate the effect of the repaired deficiency of the vertebral lamina of the spina bifida with the bone-muscle flaps. Material and methods Thirteen patients of the spina bifida and meningomyelocele had been treated. The ages of them were from 1 month to 10 years (averages 2.8 years). The places of deficiency of the vertebral lamina of the spina bifida were 7 cases of the lumber sacrum vertebrae, 4 cases of the lumber vertebrae and 2 cases of the thoracic vertebrae. There were 2 cases of paralysis of the lower limbs and 5 cases of the incontinence of urine in their symptoms before the operation. All patients were examined by x-ray and ultrasonography, 8 cases by CT and MRI. The outcomes of 13 chlidren with the deficiency of the vertebral lamina of the spina bifida and the meningomyelocele were followed after the operation of the repair with the bone-muscle flaps. they were analysed by examination of the clinic, x-ray, ultrasonography , CT and MRI in following five months to five years (average 3.1 years). Results: In 11 cases of 13 patients, clinical symptom had disappeared, 4 cases of the urine incontinence had recovered and 1 case of the paralysis of the lower limbs had eased The deficiency of the vertebral lamina had been repaired and the bone of the bone-muscle flaps had healed. Conclusion: At the basic of the repaired meningomyelocele and relaxed tethered cord, the better effect of the recovery vertebral foramen, increasing stability of vertebra and prevention of the development of the malformation of the spinal column could be obtained with the repaired deficiency by bone-muscle flaps.