Spina bifida,(Latin for split spine) is a birth defect in which some of the vertebrae protecting the spinal cord do not fuse together and remain open, leaving a portion of the spinal cord exposed. The hole can be closed surgically, either in utero or after birth, but this will not repair the damage to the affected portion of the spinal cord.
Types of Spina Bifida
There are four types of spina bifida.
Type1 is spina bifida occulta. Spina bifida occulta is the most common and the mildest form of spina bifida. Occulta is from the Latin and means hidden, indicating that the opening in the spine is covered by a thin layer of skin. This form of spina bifida, present in 10 to 20 percent of the population, rarely causes disability or even shows symptoms.
Type 2 is marked by closed neural tube defects, a diverse group of spinal defects in while the spine is marked by malformations. In this (also very mild) form, individuals may show no symptoms at all or may suffer from incomplete paralysis and incontinence.
Meningocele, or Type 3, spina bifida occurs when spinal fluid or the meninges (the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord) protrude through an opening in the vertebrae. The opening contains no neural defects and may or may not be covered by a layer of skin. Individuals with this type of spina bifida may have no or very few symptoms.
The fourth type of spina bifida, myelomeningocele, is the most severe form. It occurs when the spinal cord is exposed through the opening in the spinal column. This often results in partial or complete paralysis and sensory deficits below the affected area of the spinal cord.
Causes of Spina Bifida
No one knows for sure what causes the incomplete closure of the neural tube around the spinal cord. Scientists think that spina bifida may have three different cuses working in combination: genetics, nutrition and environmental factors. Insufficient amounts of the common B vitamin folic acid in the mother's diet is thought to be a main cause of spina bifida.
Treatments of Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is incurable. The nerves that have been damaged due to the neural tube malformation can't be replaced or repaired and function can't be restored.
Surgery after birth can close the opening in the spinal cord. Surgery in utero is also becoming more common. Some doctors believe that this is the best treatment option because they believe that the sooner the hole is closed, the better the baby's long-term prognosis.
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Megan Abrams - I have lived with the effects of a childhood stroke for more than half my life and offer a uniquely personal perspective on disability.
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