Spina Bifida Types Of Spina Bifida Spinal Bifida Occulta

The most common location of the malformations are in the lumbar and sacral areas. The lumbar nerves control the muscles in the hip, leg, knee and foot, and help to keep the body erect. The sacral nerves control some of the muscles in the feet, bowel and bladder and the ability to have an erection. Some degree of impairment can be expected in these areas.

1 Types of spina bifida

1.1 Spinal bifida occulta

This is a mild form of spina bifida. There is no opening on the back, but the outer part of some of the vertebrae are not completely closed. The split in the vertebrae is so small that the spinal cord does not protrude. The skinThis article is about skin in the biological sense. For other uses of skin see skin (computing) and skinhead. Regarding exposure of the skin to be seen by others, or prevention of this, see nudity, nudism, modesty, clothing. Fruits such as oranges also ha at the site of the lesion may be normal, or it may have some hairHair is also a musical: see Hair (musical) and Hair (movie Hair is the filamentous outgrowth of the epidermis found in mammals. Hair is a characteristic of all mammals, though in some species hair is absent at certain stages of life. Hairs" are also founds growing from it; there may be a dimple in the skin, or a birthmarkA birthmark also known as a Naevus is a blemish on the skin formed before birth. The cause of birthmarks is unknown, but may include cellular damage due to radiation or chemicals. Some types of birth marks seem to run in families. A number of different bi. People with this form may have incontinenceThe word incontinence has several distinct meanings: urinary incontinence is the inability to control urination fecal incontinence is the inability to control defecation the word incontinence can also be used to mean a lack of self-control governing moral, slight ambulatory problems, and slight loss of sensation.

1.2 Spina bifida cystica (myelomeningocele)

In this, the most serious form, the meningeal membranes that cover the spinal cord and part of the spinal cord protrude through a cleft, forming a sac or cystA cyst is a closed sac having a distinct membrane and developing abnormally in a cavity or structure of the body. Cysts can often be dangerous as they may have negative effects on the nearby tissue. They may contain air, fluids, or other materials. Cystic, and are clearly visible. The opening is surgicallySurgery is the medical specialty that treats diseases or injuries by operative manual and instrumental treatment. Its practitioners are referred to as surgeons''. History of surgery Although surgeons are now considered to be specialised physicians, the pr repaired, shortly after birthChildbirth (also called labour birth or parturition is the culmination of pregnancy, the emergence of a child from its mother's uterus. It can be considered the opposite of death, as it is the beginning of a person's life. Age is defined relative to this. The sac or cyst not only contains tissueBiological tissue is a group of cells that perform a similar function. The study of tissues is known as histology, or, in connection with disease, histopathology. The classical tools for studying the tissues are the wax block, the tissue stain, and the op and cerebrospinal fluid but also nerves and part of the spinal cord. The spinal cord is damaged or not properly developed. As a result, there is always some degree of paralysis and loss of sensation below the damaged vertebrae. The amount of disability depends very much on where the spina bifida is and the amount of nerve damage involved. Many children and adults with this condition experience problems with bowel and bladder control. In approximately 90% of the people with myelomeningocele, hydrocephalus will also occur.

1.3 Meningocele

In this, the least common form, the outer part of some of the vertebrae are split and the meninges are damaged and pushed out through the opening, appearing as a sac or cyst, which contains both the ( meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid. The nerves are not usually badly damaged and are able to function, therefore there is often little disability present. There are usually no long-term problems, although problems can arise.

2 Causes

Spina bifida is caused by the failure of the neural tube to close during embryonic development. Normally the closure of the neural tube occurs around the thirtieth day after fertilization. However, if something interferes and the tube fails to close properly, a neural tube defect will occur. Neural tube defects include the conditions of anencephaly, encephalocele , and spina bifida.

Spina bifida occurs in the first month of pregnancy, often before the woman knows that she is pregnant.

Spina bifida does not follow direct patterns of heredity like muscular dystrophy or haemophilia.

It is known that women taking medication for epilepsy have a higher chance of having a child with a neural tube defect.

3 Effects

Spina bifida results in varying degrees of paralysis, absence of skin sensation, incontinence, and spine and limb problems depending on the severity and location of the lesion damage on the spine. In very rare case, cognitive problems also result.

Most babies born with the condition will need surgeries to correct spinal, foot or leg problems, shunt surgery to drain fluid from the brain, application of techniques to control bladder and bowel function (such as self-catherization or diapers ), and braces and other equipment to assist in walking.

Tethered cord , with symptoms such as lower body pain, leg weakness, incontinence, scoliosis, numbness, is a common problem associated with spina bifida. Indeed 100% of spina bifida patients have tethered cord, caused by the spinal cord damage when it is repaired by surgery soon after birth, and the resulting natural scar tissue buildup. However many do not show symptoms of tethered cord until later in life or never at all.

4 Treatment

There is no cure for spina bifida. To prevent further drying and damage of the nervous tissue and to prevent infection, doctors operate as soon as possible to close the opening on the back, but there is no operation that can fix damaged nerves. During the operation, the spinal cord and its nerve roots are put into place and covered with skin. Doctors can now perform surgery to correct spina bifida before birth. In the 4th or 5th month, they have a window of opportunity to perform surgery by opening the mother's abdomen, and entering the uterus to operate on the fetus. Skin grafts are used to cover the exposed spinal cord. This usually corrects the problem and the child does not suffer the paralysis from spina bifida.

5 Rate of occurrence

In the United States, spina bifida occurs in about one in every 1-2,000 births. More children in the U.S. have spina bifida than have muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis combined.

In Western Australia, up until 1996 around 2 children in every 1000 were born with a neural tube defect. Since 1996, as a result of the folic acid campaign, the figure has dropped to 1.3 children per 1000 births.

6 Prevention

Doctors and scientists have found that folic acid can help to prevent spina bifida. It is recommended that women planning to be pregnant should take at least 0.4 mg of folic acid from at least one month before conception, and at least 1 mg of folic acid during at least the first three months of pregnancy. As yet it us unknown how or why folic acid helps to prevent spina bifida.

Sources of folic acid include: Whole grain breads, fortified cereals, dried peas, dried beans, leafy green vegetables, fruits.

7 People

People of note born with spina bifida:

Olympian and eight-time Boston Marathon winner Jean Driscoll
80s Rock Star John Mellencamp

Congenital disorders

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