Spina Bifida

The result of a neural tube defect.

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By Jenny Ewen, BA, NREMT
Editor-In-Chief

Overview

Spina bifida is the most common birth defect in the United States that results in permanent disability - the literal meaning of the name is “Split spine” and occurs during the first 28 days of pregnancy. It is a neural tube defect, and the neural tube is a hollow structure in an embryo from where the brain and spinal cord form. The spinal column doesn’t close completely when it should early in pregnancy, and this damages the nerves and spinal cord.

Since there are so many variables in spina bifida (depends on the location, size, and type of defect), the resulting signs and symptoms vary widely from person to person. It can range from mild to severe, and early treatment (surgery) doesn’t always completely fix it.

Types of Spina Bifida

There are three main types of Spina bifida that present differently and range in severity: spina bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomenigocele.

 

Spina bifida occulta is very mild, since “occulta” means “hidden” - so there is just a small separation in the vertebrae, and people with this type may not even be aware they have it. The only physical sign of it may be a bit of hair or a dimple/birthmark on the back, with no disabilities present.

 

In the meningocele type, the meninges (which are the membranes around the spinal cord to protect it) actually get pushed out between the vertebrae, forming a fluid-filled sac. Nerve damage isn’t as likely with this type, since the spinal cord isn’t involved in the sac. This type has a low risk of disabilities, and any disabilities that result from it will be minor.

 

The third type is also the most severe - myelomeningocele is when the spinal canal is left open through the pregnancy, and membranes and spinal nerves come out through this opening once the baby is born. A sac is formed on the baby’s back and it exposes tissues and nerves, making life-threatening infections a risk.

 

This type also results in moderate to severe disabilities that are most associated with spina bifida, such as problems with using the bathroom (the nerves for the bladder/bowels come from the lower spinal cord, and are damaged so they don’t work properly), no feeling in the lower extremities (children may get wounds from blisters/sores that don’t heal because they don’t realize there’s an injury there), and possibly not being able to move the legs at all.

 

Myelomeningocele can also result in brain issues - babies may develop meningitis (infection in the tissues of the brain) which is a life-threatening infection, or may experience hydrocephalus, where there is excess fluid in the brain.

 

Sleep problems can also develop as children grow up, including sleep apnea, which requires testing and treatment.

Causes of Spina Bifida

Spina bifida only occurs in the first month of pregnancy, so risks for it are associated with the mother, although the specific reason for it occuring still isn’t known.

 

White and Hispanic women more commonly have children with spina bifida, and those who have a family history of neural tube defects - a couple who has one child with a neural tube defect has a higher chance of another child developing a defect. While there’s been a genetic component noted, most babies born with spina bifida actually come from no family history of it.

 

Women who have a folate deficiency (folic acid - vitamin B-9) increases the risk of neural tube defects, including spina bifida - this is why women who are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant are advised to take folic acid. Women who take certain medications while pregnant (such as anti-seizure meds) that interfere with the body’s use of folate have a higher risk of having a baby with neural tube defects.

 

Pregnant women with diabetes who don’t have their blood sugar under control, and women who are obese before becoming pregnant are more likely to have a baby with spina bifida or other neural tube defects.

 

There’s been a link seen between body temperature and neural tube defects in babies - women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should avoid having a high body temperature from things like sitting in a hot tub or in a sauna, and treating any fever immediately with over-the-counter medications.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Spina bifida can be detected in the fetus before birth, since it develops during the first month of pregnancy. There are three tests in utero that can be performed: a blood test (in the 16th-18th weeks of pregnancy) which is called the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening test in which high levels of protein indicate a neural tube defect, an ultrasound of the fetus (which could show signs of spina bifida including the open spine), and a lab test on a small amount of fluid taken from the womb called maternal amniocentesis - it tests protein (AFP) levels.

 

In some cases, spina bifida is not diagnosed until the baby is born, particularly if the mother has not had access to adequate healthcare during pregnancy. For cases of spina bifida occulta, the only sign of it may be a dimple or hairy patch of skin on the back, which can be checked with imaging to see the spine and  bones.

 

Since spina bifida can range so much in severity, treatment depends on the specific case. Fetal surgery in the 26th week of pregnancy can be performed to repair the spinal cord to reduce disabilities after birth; however, it can increase the risk of hydrocephalus.

 

Most babies with myelomeningocele are in a breech position, so a C-section may be required at birth. After birth, surgery can be performed to repair the spinal cord for both meningocele and myelomeningocele. In this surgery, a neurosurgeon puts the meninges back inside the spine and closes the opening of the vertebrae (for meningocele) or places the exposed sac of skin back into the body and covers the area with muscle and skin (for myelomeningocele) - a shunt may be used to control hydrocephalus in the brain during the operation.

 

After surgery, complications may happen and treatment is ongoing through the child’s life. Babies who have myelomeningocele may need multiple surgeries as they grow up for the nerve damage. In severe cases, children may need walkers or a wheelchair in addition to physical therapy. GI problems require ongoing monitoring and evaluations that may be more frequent in childhood.

 

As babies with spina bifida grow up who have a more severe case, they will need ongoing care in many areas to live as independently as possible, which is the goal for all patients.

Sources and More Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “What is Spina Bifida?” https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/facts.html

 

Mayo Clinic, “Spina Bifida” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spina-bifida/symptoms-causes/syc-20377860

 

Spina Bifida Association, “What is Spina Bifida?” https://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/what-is-spina-bifida/


U.S. National Library of Medicine - Medline Plus, “Spina Bifida” https://medlineplus.gov/spinabifida.html

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