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;jsessionid=025B01EFC08673CBD49C48436F3695C8

http://library.eb.com/search?query=spina+bifida&ct=

http://web.ebscohost.com/chc/detail?hid=10&sid=c591a1de-f1ca-420f-9b4d-4cb518f38c38%40sessionmgr15&vid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9Y2hjLWxpdmU%3d#db=cmh&AN=HL11542

http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/basicSearch.do