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Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida, the most severe form of which is known as myelomeningocele, is a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. Recent research indicates a connection between Spina Bifida and a deficiency of folic acid in the diet of the mother.
300 Questions
Does spina bifida cause deafness?
No, Spina Bifida does not affect the ears normally. There may exist other medical conditions in a child who has Spina Bifida, including conditions that affect the ears, but they would be separate conditions unrelated to the Spina Bifida.
DES is known to cause cancer, but is not known to cause Spina Bifida.
What is the prognosis of latex allergy?
swelling AND ITCHING OF THE HANDS OR WHERE THE LATEX HAS COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE ALLERGIC PERSONS SKIN....SEVERE MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY BREATHING OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH...THROAT CLOSING TYPICAL SYMPTOM OF AN ALLERGIC REACTION
How is gastrulation involved in spina bifida?
The term "gastrulation" refers to an early stage of development when the single cell that life begins from, the blastula, does not develop correctly. This may cause a loss of symmetry (amongst other things) which then leads to the development of spina bifida.
Are fused vertebrae and water on the brain together a form of Spina Bifida?
Fused vertebrae and water on the brain (hydrocephalus) can be associated with spina bifida, but they are not inherently forms of the condition themselves. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that occurs when the spine does not close completely during fetal development, leading to potential complications like fused vertebrae or hydrocephalus. However, these issues can also arise independently or be related to other conditions. Therefore, while they can coexist in some cases, they do not collectively define spina bifida.
Why is it harder for fat women to get pregnant?
There is no such thing as fat women not getting pregnant. As long as you and your partner are adequate with eggs and sperm it should still happen. Like we have always said though best thing is to forget about trying and decide to do something else like buy a house or car or something that will hinder your finances and it will happen. Most of the time though it's the concentration of wanting to get pregnant that stresses you out and then it doesn't happen so if you have had the sperm count and the egg count thing done then like my mom says it's all in your head it will happen when you're not ready for it.
Is Spina Bifida inherited or not?
Although doctors are unclear what causes spina bifida, they believe it is a mixture of genetics and environmental factors. Having a parent or sibling with spina bifida slightly increases the chance of a baby being born with a neural tube defect. Most babies with spina bifida are born to parents who have no history of neural tube defects.
Folate deficiency (Vitamin B) is a known factor in women giving birth to a baby with a neural tube defect. One of the known preventative measures is to increase the amount of folic acid starting prior to conception. Ask your doctor or midwife if a high dose of folic acid is indicated for you.
Spina bifida and other defects can occur before a women knows she is pregnant. Spina Bifida happens in the middle of the 4th week (by day 28) after conception when the two sides of developing fetus fail to develop or close properly, causing defects.
A rise in the body temperature of more than four degrees Fahrenheit (2 Celsius) is another known factor in neural tube defects, women who think they may be pregnant are cautioned not to use hot tubs or to soak in a hot bath.
Obesity prior to pregnancy and uncontrolled diabetes are another known factor in neural tube defects. As are some prescription medications. Talk to your doctor about any prescription medications you take.
We are seeking mothers of children with Spina Bifida to participate in our study:
http://www.sbgenetics.org/
How did Nicholas Tulp discover the birth defect Spina Bifida?
He didn't "discover" it. One can see Spina Bifida quite plainly when an infant is born, unless it is the most mild form thereof, called Spina Bifida Occulta. What Nicholas Tulp did was give Spina Bifida its name and he also gave the first medical description of it.
Can you have spina bifida in the C1 vertebrae?
Yes you can. Spina Bifida at C1 is called spondyloschisis.
It seems you wrote too much information in your question to be able to actually ask a question!
How many people were born with spina bifida in the 1970's?
One in one thousand babies are born with spina bifida. Therefore, this rate can be extrapolated to the number of total births (in any location, and in any period of time).
Does spina bifida have oligohydramnios?
Not usually. The defect that causes spina bifida is not related to the causes of oligohydramnios.
Can a person allergic to latex use products with synthetic rubber?
Yes. Latex is a natural form of rubber that comes from a tree, while synthetic rubber is completely different and does not have the same proteins in it.
Is a newborn paralyzed immediately if it has Spina Bifida?
No, not necessarily. The level of paralysis is dependent on the level of the lesion, what vertebrae were affected and whether the lesion was open and the spinal cord and nerves were exposed.
Meningocele repair (also known as myelomeningocele repair) is surgery to repair birth defects of the spine and spinal membranes. Meningocele and myelomeningocele are types of spina bifida.
Alternative NamesMyelomeningocele repair; Myelomeningocele closure; Myelodysplasia repair; Spinal dysraphism repair; Meningomyelocele repair; Neural tube defect repair; Spina bifida repair
DescriptionFor both meningoceles and myelomeningoceles, the surgeon will close the opening in the back.
After birth, the defect is covered by a sterile dressing. Your child may then be transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and cared for by a medical team experienced in caring for children with spina bifida.
Your baby will likely have an MRI (magnetic resonance imagining) or ultrasound of the back. An MRI or ultrasound of the brain may be done to look for hydrocephalus (extra fluid in the brain).
If the myelomeningocele is not covered by skin or a membrane when your child is born, surgery will happen within 24 to 48 hours after birth to prevent infection.
If your child has hydrocephalus, the doctor may put a shunt (plastic tube) in their brain to drain the extra fluid to the stomach. This prevents pressure that could damage the baby's brain. See also: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt
Your child should not be exposed to latex before, during, and after surgery. Many of these children have very bad allergies to latex.
Why the Procedure Is PerformedRepair of a meningocele or myelomeningocele is needed to prevent infection and further injury to the child's spinal cord and nerves. Surgery cannot correct the defects in the spinal cord or nerves.
RisksRisks for any anesthesia are:
- Breathing problems
- Reactions to medications
Risks for any surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
Risks for this surgery are:
- Fluid build up and pressure in the brain (hydrocephalus)
- Increased chance of urinary tract infection and bowel problems
- Infection or inflammation of the spinal cord
- Paralysis, weakness, or sensation changes due to loss of nerve function
A health care provider often will find these defects before birth using fetal ultrasound. The doctor will follow the fetus very closely until birth. It is better if you're infant is carried to full term. Your doctor will want to do a cesarean section (C-section). This will prevent further damage to the sac or exposed spinal tissue.
After the ProcedureYour child will usually need to spend about 2 weeks in the hospital after surgery. The child must lay flat without touching the wound area. After surgery, your child will receive antibiotics to prevent infection.
MRI or ultrasound of the brain is repeated after surgery to see if hydrocephalus develops once the defect in the back is repaired.
Your child may need physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Many children with these problems have gross (large) and fine (small) motor disabilities, and swallowing problems, early in life.
The child may need to see a team of medical experts in spina bifida often after they are discharged from the hospital.
Outlook (Prognosis)How well a child does depends on the initial condition of their spinal cord and nerves. After a meningocele repair, children often do very well and have no further brain, nerve, or muscle problems.
Children born with myelomeningocele usually have paralysis or weakness of the muscles below the level of their spine where the defect is. They also may not be able to control their bladder or bowels. They will likely need medical and educational support for many years.
The ability to walk and control bowel and bladder function depends where the birth defect was on the spine. Defects lower down on the spinal cord may have a better outcome.
ReferencesKinsman SL, Johnston MV. Congenital anomalies of the central nervous system. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 592.
Why do people need to be informed about spina bifida?
People need to know what might happen if the mother doesn't take folic acid when pregnant.
Why does the spine not fuse when you have Spina Bifida?
Scientists wish they knew. Something as of yet undetected interferes between the genetic and cellular level causing a gap in the embryonic neural tube. The neural tube is a precursor to the CNS which includes the spine, cord and brain.
With all they do know, down to the days of embryonic development when the cells should fuse to reducing the chance to 1% through the use of Vitamin A and a few known risk factors such as diabetes, fever, medication and obesity; most babies are still being born to women with no known factors.
What does a level t10 mean in an unborn child with Spina Bifida?
T-10 is the short hand term for thoracic vertebrae #10. It is located in the mid-lower back. In this case it is probably referring to the location where the incomplete vertebrae is located.
Did Hank Williams Have Spina Bifida?
Hank Williams, Sr. was born with Spina Bifida Occulta, a "hidden" form of Spina Bifida. His death was contributed to the mixing of alcohol and pain medication, which he took to treat back pain caused by his Spina Bifida.
Do people with spina bifida have control of their legs?
Some do, some don't. Most have at least some limitation in the control of their legs, but the amount varies from one individual to the next.
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If they have the most mild form of Spina Bifida, called Spina Bifida Occulta, then yes, this is certainly possible. Spina Bifida Occulta often shows no outward signs and is many times not discovered until the person has an x-ray or other procedure in which the spine is seen.
