Spina bifida, also known as “open spine,” is a neural tube birth defect that inhibits the development of the spinal cord, its membrane, the spinal nerves, and the backbone. Spinal bifida malformations fall into one of four categories:
- In Spina bifida occulta, the mildest form of the disease, the outer part of some of the vertebrae is not completely closed. Many people with this form of Spina bifida do not know they have the disease as it is asymptomatic.
- Spina bifida cystica is when a cyst protrudes through the defect in the vertebral arch.
- In Meningocele, the least common form of the disease, the vertebrae develop normally, but the meninges (the system of membranes which envelopes the central nervous system) are forced into the gaps between the vertebrae.
- Myelomeningocele, a serious and common form, is when the unconjoined portion of the spinal column allows the spinal cord to protrude through an opening.
Signs and Symptoms
- Children with Spina bifida often have hydrocephalus which is excess fluid in the brain’s cavities.
- Incontinence, or the inability to control one’s bowels, is another symptom of Spina bifida.
- According to the Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA), over 73% of people suffering from Spina bifida develop an allergy to latex that can range from mild to life-threatening.
Treatment and Prevention
There is neither a single cause of Spina bifida nor any way, as of now, to prevent it entirely. However, a diet full of folic acid has been shown to preventing the disease. Some common foods with folic acid are whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, dried beans, fruits, and leaf vegetables.
There is no known cure for nerve damage stemming from Spina bifida, but there are ways to prevent further nervous tissue damage and infection. Pediatric neurosurgeons operate to close the opening on the back. Additionally, a shunt can be surgically installed to prevent excess water on the brain caused by hydrocephalus. If Spina bifida is discovered during pregnancy, open fetal surgery can be performed.
Facts about Spina Bifida
- Spina bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect.
- Spina bifida affects 3 in 10,000 births in the United States.
- Currently, an estimated 130,000 people in the United States are living with Spina bifida.
- There are 60 million women at risk of having a baby born with Spina bifida.
Featured Organization
The Sophie’s Voice Foundation is a non-profit charity that supports family outreach programs, prenatal education, and surgical studies for children and adults with Spina bifida. Actors Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker founded the Sophie’s Voice Foundation in 2008 in honor of their daughter Sophia who was diagnosed with the disease at birth. Since then, they have consulted with various specialists and have gotten educated about Spina bifida to properly address their daughter’s needs and help others who also suffer from this ailment. To learn more about this foundation or to donate money, you can check out http://www.sophiesvoicefoundation.org.
