Spina Bifida Topics

• open fetal surgery
• nerve roots
• skin grafts
• hydrocephalus shunts
• pain severity
• ultrasound screening
• breakfast cereals
• dietary supplementation
• vegetables and fruits
• fetal skin
• folic acid supplements
• whole grains
• sources of folic acid
• nervous tissue
• pregnant mother
• cerebrospinal fluid
• meninges
• prolonged exposure
• myelomeningocele
• shunt

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Spina Bifida, Spina Bifida

Myelomeningocele is the most significant form and it is this that leads to disability in most affected individuals. The terms spina bifida and myelomeningocele are usually used interchangeably.

The incidence of spina bifida can be decreased by up to 75 percent when daily folic acid supplements are taken prior to conception.

A systematic review of radiographic research studies found no relationship between spina bifida occulta and back pain.

One study found that among patients with back pain, severity is worse if spina bifida occulta is present.

To prevent further damage of the nervous tissue and to prevent infection, pediatric neurosurgeons operate to close the opening on the back. During the operation for spina bifida cystica, the spinal cord and its nerve roots are put back inside the spine and covered with meninges. In addition, a shunt may be surgically installed to provide a continuous drain for the cerebrospinal fluid produced in the brain, as happens with hydrocephalus. Shunts most commonly drain into the abdomen. However, if spina bifida is detected during pregnancy, then open fetal surgery can be performed.

This involves surgically opening the pregnant mother's abdomen and uterus to operate on the fetus. Fetal skin grafts are used to cover the exposed spinal cord, to protect it from further damage caused by prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid. The fetal surgery may decrease some of the damaging effects of the spina bifida, but at some risk to both the fetus and the pregnant woman.

However, dietary supplementation with folic acid has been shown to be helpful in preventing spina bifida (see above). Sources of folic acid include whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, dried beans, leaf vegetables and fruits.

However, in the majority of cases spina bifida is an isolated malformation.

Ultrasound screening for spina bifida is partly responsible for the decline in new cases, because many pregnancies are terminated out of fear that a newborn might have a poor future quality of life. With modern medical care, the quality of life of patients has greatly improved.

Source: Wikipedia > Spina Bifida