The topic of today is Spina Bifida.
For those who do not know, Spina Bifida is a serious birth abnormality in which the spinal cord is malformed and lacks its usual protective skeletal and soft tissue coverings near the arch of the back. In most cases it causes a sac to form on the individuals back. This is due to meninges, the tissue surrounding the vertebrae to not close completely, and allows the nerve fluid to not drain properly, which results in the sac on the individuals back. In rare and most serious cases, the nerves as well and the spinal fluid will fill the sac, and can actually expose the nerves and spine through the flesh.
Although there are four different types of Spina Bifida, ranging from mild to severe (Spina Bifida Occulta, Closed neural tube, Meningocele and Myelomeningocele), I am only going to talk about to the main and most common ones.
Occulta is the mildest and most common version of Spina Bifida. Occulta is usually referred to as the hidden spine, because the skin covers the opening of the spine. Most individuals are unaware that they have occulta. There and little to no symptoms at all. The only way to test this is to get an x-ray of the spine. There is no damage to the spinal cord or the nerves.
The more severe form of Spina bifida is Myelomeningocele. It is when nerve or spinal fluid pushes against the skin forming a sac on the individual’s back the sac is not be covered by the skin, in some cases exposing the actually spinal cord, like an open wound. The individual is partial or completely paralyzed, with urinary and bowel dysfunction. The nerves become damaged and may cause problems with walking and full body coordination.
No one knows for sure the cause of this birth defect, although scientists believe that it is due to genetic, environmental and nutritional factors. Another factor is due to improper intake of prenatal vitamins while the mother is pregnant. Folic acid is a type of vitamin B, which is taken to prevent miscarriages and neural tube defects (spinal cord).
The symptoms of Spina bifida vary from child to child. They could have a patch of hair, a dimple or birthmark at the location of the malfunction. The y could also have a visible sac, not to mention nerve damage, and unable function of their limbs. Spina Bifida can also be tested while the mother is still pregnant through a blood test (alpha-fetoprotein), an ultrasound (sonogram) and amniocentesis.
There is no cure, nor any real treatment of Spina bifida; it depends on the severity of the child’s defect. If they have occulta then there is no treatment needed. But if it is any of the other more severe types then precautions are taking immediately. In some cases the baby undergoes surgery only a few days after being born. If detected in the womb, doctors can open up the womb and presume surgery too, but the result of this is lost neurological function. Throughout the child’s life they might need a brace, wheel chair, use catheters and take antibiotics if the vertebra is exposed.
