Spina Bifida
By: Jordyne Taylor Janke
What Is Spina Bifida?
 Spina Bifida is a type of birth defects, it’s called a neural
tube defect. In Spina Bifida, a baby’s spine does not
close completely during early pregnancy. It can begin to
develop in a fetus before the mother even knows she is
pregnant. In some of the cases, structures that should
be in the spinal canal can slip out. The structure affected
involves:
 Membranes that surrounds the spinal cord
 Nerve roots that connect nerves to the spinal cord
 Spinal cord
 Vertebra (back bone) may be deformed
How many people does it affect?
 Spina Bifida affects 1,500 to 2,000 of more than 4 million
babies born in the country each year.
3 Types of Spina Bifida
 Occulta- This type is the least severe from and can have no
symptoms, small defect in one or more vertebrae, spinal
cord and nerves are normal, and usually no complications.
 Meningocele- This is when the membranes poke through an
open part of the spine. This forms a cyst. Spinal fluid can
leak out this type can be treated.
 Myelomeningocele- This is the most severe form of Spina
Bifida in this case the cyst contains membrane, nerve roots,
and sometimes the spinal cord. This type can potentially
result in severe problems, such as: Paralysis and
incontinence of bowel and bladder may occur this is
frequently not cured by surgery, hydrocephalus is a build up
of fluids in the brain that increase pressure on the brain.
These are the 3 types of Spina
Bifida..
What is some ways you treat
Spina Bifida?

Surgery- The extensive surgery is done on a baby 24-48 hours after the
baby has been delivered and during the surgery, the nerves, membrane,
and the spinal cord are put back into the spine they mostly are covered
with skin. They are mostly done through the childhood.

Physical Therapy- They therapist teach the parents how to exercise the
infant's legs and there feet. Walkers, braces, and crutches will often be
needed for mobility.

Ongoing Treatment- For ongoing treatment it is very important that you
work with a team and doctors because they will be able to provide the
best care and protection you need for you and your child's health. The
team would include people such as:

Neurosurgeons

Orthopedic surgeons

Urologists

Rehabilitation experts

Physical therapists

Psychologist

Social workers
How do you Prevent Spina
Bifidia?
 Prevention- This would be so your child has less chance
of getting Spina Bifida. Your are supposed to supplement
your diet with at least 4000 micrograms of folic acid
every day if you plan to conceive. The supplementation
must begin before the baby is conceived and should
continue throughout the pregnancy. While a formal
vitamin supplement containing folate may be the most
reliable method of supplementation, foods with
significant quantities of folate include:
 Leafy green vegetables
 Orange juice
 Beans
 White flour products and cereals fortified with folate.
Some Risk Factors..
 95% of babies born with Spina Bifida are born to a
family with the history of disorders. Which could include
having a previously child with a neural tube defect.
 Women who are obese, have diabetes, or who use
certain anti-seizure medications are at a higher risk of
having a child with Spina Bifida.
What are the Signs and
Symptoms?

The most immediate symptom of the Meningocele and Myelomeningocele
would be when the sac filled with fluid leading out from the baby’s spine
and the spinal cord and tissue may also protrude through the back. For
infants and children that have Spina Bifida may experience the following
long-term symptoms:

Bowel and Bladder problems

Frequent urinary tract and other infections

Learning disabilities

Accumulation of fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus)

Scoliosis

Latex allergy (from frequent surgeries early in life)

Inability to walk

* Muscle weakness and paralysis of the lower extremities

* Hip Dislocation

* Foot and ankle deformities

Many Children with myelomeningocele are wheelchair bound

(Contributors, Editorial Staff)
Spina Bifida open and closed?
 They are really four types of Spina Bifida but the three
main ones would be the Occulta, Meningocele, and
Myelomeningocele those are the closed defects that I
was talking about they are the neural tube defects.
Where as the Rachischisis is an open neural tube defect.
What is the Diagnosis for Spina
Bifida?
 Spina Bifida is diagnosed prenatally, or before birth. But
is some cases the milder ones will go unnoticed until
after birth. Very mild cases where there is no symptoms
may never be detected or go unknown.
How is living with Spina Bifida?
 Spina Bifida is a lifelong disease that requires a lifestyle
modifications. A person who was born with the disease
may learn to cope with it and get help from family and
friends.
 Children that are born with Spina Bifida often require
support from a caregiver for assistance to do things like
multiple activities. The caregivers may also need to learn
how to catheterize the child.
Is there Life Time changes?
 It all depends on if it is a life time condition, which case
you have. If you do have a life time change you might
have to use a wheelchair, or walkers, using a catheter to
empty your bladder, or other adjustments to.
 If you have Spina Bifida you need to try to stay away
from latex, because of the frequency of the allergies
seen in the population of the people.
~The Expected outcomes.....
 Children that have Spina Bifida can lead to a very active
life. Even if they have to have a device to help them live
a better life.
Survival Rates
 Most children who have Spina Bifida have a normal life
span.
~Sources~
 http://wiki.medpedia.com/Spina_Bifida
 http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/basicSearch.do;jsessioni
d=025B01EFC08673CBD49C48436F3695C8
 http://library.eb.com/search?query=spina+bifida&ct=
 http://web.ebscohost.com/chc/detail?hid=10&sid=c591a
1de-f1ca-420f-9b4d4cb518f38c38%40sessionmgr15&vid=3&bdata=JnNpdG
U9Y2hjLWxpdmU%3d#db=cmh&AN=HL11542
 http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/basicSearch.do