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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly. It’s a type of neural tube defect. The neural tube is the structure in a developing embryo that eventually becomes the baby’s brain, spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them.
Normally, the neural tube forms early in pregnancy and it closes by the 28th day after conception. In babies with spina bifida, a portion of the neural tube doesn’t close or develop properly, causing defects in the spinal cord and in the bones of the spine.
Spina bifida can range from mild to severe, depending on the type of defect, size, location and complications. When necessary, early treatment for spina bifida involves surgery — although such treatment doesn’t always completely resolve the problem.
Types
Spina bifida can occur in different types: spina bifida occulta, myelomeningocele (my-uh-lo-muh-NING-go-seel) or the very rare type meningocele (muh-NING-go-seel).
Spina bifida occulta
“Occulta” means hidden. It’s the mildest and most common type. Spina bifida occulta results in a small separation or gap in one or more of the bones of the spine (vertebrae). Many people who have spina bifida occulta don’t even know it, unless the condition is discovered during an imaging test done for unrelated reasons.
Myelomeningocele
Also known as open spina bifida, myelomeningocele is the most severe type. The spinal canal is open along several vertebrae in the lower or middle back. The membranes and spinal nerves push through this opening at birth, forming a sac on the baby’s back, typically exposing tissues and nerves. This makes the baby prone to life-threatening infections and may also cause paralysis and bladder and bowel dysfunction.
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Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of spina bifida vary by type and severity, and also between individuals.
- Spina bifida occulta. Typically there aren’t any signs or symptoms because the spinal nerves aren’t involved. But you can sometimes see signs on the newborn’s skin above the spinal defect, including an abnormal tuft of hair, or a small dimple or birthmark. Sometimes, the skin marks can be signs of an underlying spinal cord issue that can be discovered with MRI or spinal ultrasound in a newborn.
- Myelomeningocele. In this severe type of spina bifida:
- The spinal canal remains open along several vertebrae in the lower or middle back
- Both the membranes and the spinal cord or nerves protrude at birth, forming a sac
- Tissues and nerves usually are exposed, though sometimes skin covers the sac
When to see a doctor
Typically, myelomeningocele is diagnosed before or right after birth, when medical care is available. These children should be followed by a specialized team of doctors throughout their lives, and families should be educated on the different complications to watch for.
Children with spina bifida occulta typically don’t have any symptoms or complications, so usually only routine pediatric care is needed.