General Description:

-Malformation of the vertebral column leaves a hole in the back, which the meninges, inside a membranous sac, herniate out.

-The meninges herniated outside the body are usually abnormal or damaged, though the meninges that remain inside the body generally are normal.

-The spinal cord is usually intact and undamaged in meningocele-type spina bifida.

-Spina bifidas are the most common CNS disorder.

Causes and Prevalence:

-There are multiple factors involved; two that currently are being examined are hereditary links and geographic links.

-Spina bifida is known to occur as a part of some hereditary syndromes and also as a result of chromosomal disorders; exposure to agents that cause developmental defects, such as valproic acid, aminopterin, and thalidomide can also cause spina bifida.

-Maternal diabetes, especially diabetes mellitus, is a high risk factor for developing spina bifida in a pregnancy.

-It is known that the factors causing spina bifida act on the fetus between the 16th and 16th day of development, following fertilization.

-Spina bifida is the most common CNS disorder, occuring more frequently in western countries then eastern, and afflicting caucasians more than other ethnicities.

-In approximately 85% of cases diagnosed as spina bifida, the spina bifida is either myelomeningocele or a meningocele, as opposed to occulta.

-If there is one affected child, the risk of having a second is 5%; if there are two afflicted, the risk rises to 13%.

Symptoms, Tests, Treatment, and Prevention:

-Along with the acutal spina bifida lesion, several other anomalies can accompany: various other skull and brain malformations, hip dislocations and clubfeet can also accompany spina bifida.

-Arnold-Chiari Type II malformation is frequently present with all types of spina bifida. In this malformation, the brain stem is slightly smaller than normal and can become lodged in the lower passage out of the skull. This blocks the flow of cerebrosprinal fluid and increases the pressure inside the head.

-It is also known that a large portion of those with spina bifida possess a latex allergy; although, it not known whether this is inherent or developed from large amount of exposure to latex in surgeries and examinations.

-Spina bifida can be detected with great accuracy from standard ultrasound examinations.

-Several treatment options are availible for pregnancies with spina bifida, depending on the severity: for severe malformation the pregnancy can be terminated, corrective surgery can be employed immediately following birth, to a limited extent intrauterine surgery is employed, and expectant management of the spina bifida without correction is also a viable option.

-Standard prevention for spina bifida is the same dietary and lifestyle suggestions as other NTDs, particularly a presecribed amount of folic acid taken daily.