I recall the video that Ralph Davis posted of the snake born with its insides out that he sewed up. That is what I am thinking.

Cleft keel scales (scutes, according to J rossi) If that is correct it is where the ventral scales divide in the egg the book 'whats wrong with my snake' says it is a "congenital defect that usually means there was a problem during incubation." The image that is in that book looks very similar but it seems to be only 5-10 scales there.