The tale of a tail

Abstract

Human tail refers to a congenital cutaneous appendage protruding at the lumbosacral region. This interesting anomaly is often associated with occult spinal dysraphism and presents with treatment dilemma. Management of such lesions must include complete neurological examination and magnetic resonance imaging. Appropriate management including early diagnosis and microsurgical intervention can prevent development or progression of severe neurological deficits in later life. In this article, three cases of human tails are reported along with their successful treatment and review of the literature.