Q. What is spina bifida?
A. The name spina bifida literally means ‘split spine’ or ‘open spine’ – and it’s caused when the spine fails to develop properly in the early stages of pregnancy.
Q. What causes spina bifida?
A. No one knows why the spine fails to develop properly in some babies. It may be due to several factors including genetics and diet.
Q. Are all types of spina bifida the same?
A. No, there are a number of different types of spina bifida. In fact, a lot of people with spina bifida have the mildest form and will never know they have it.
In the more severe forms, the symptoms vary greatly between individuals, depending on the severity and position of the spinal defect. The person is likely to experience more severe problems the further up the spine the defect occurs.
Q. What are the main signs of spina bifida?
A. The signs of spina bifida vary depending on the type of spina bifida and its severity. Babies born with the mildest form often have no outward signs or symptoms, although they may have a birthmark or a dimple on the skin over the lower spine. Babies can also be born with a fluid-filled sac on their back that may or may not be covered with skin.
Q. What sort of complications can spina bifida cause?
A. The types of complications depend on the severity and location of the spinal defect. Common complications in more severe cases are back pain, weakness in the lower limbs, and bowel and bladder problems.
The most severe type of spina bifida may cause the paralysis or loss of all sensation in the legs. In the worst cases, the whole of the lower body may be paralysed and the person may not be able to control their bladder or bowel. In adulthood, men with spina bifida often experience erectile dysfunction.
Q. Is there a cure for spina bifida?
A. No. Even with surgery, it’s not possible to repair all the damaged nerves in the spine or to restore loss of function. However, the complications, such as bladder and bowel problems, can be effectively managed to help people with spina bifida live a full and independent life.
Q. How common is spina bifida?
A. Thankfully spina bifida is not as common as it used to be because more women are taking the dietary supplement folic acid around the time of conception. The number of babies born with spina bifida varies between countries, but it probably affects around 8 out of every 10,000 live births.
Q. Can spina bifida be prevented?
A. Although spina bifida can’t be prevented, studies have shown that if women take a folic acid dietary supplement when they start trying to become pregnant, and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of having a baby with spina bifida can be reduced by as much as 75 percent.
Q. How is spina bifida treated?
A. Usually, babies born with the more severe types of spina bifida undergo an operation very soon after birth to close the defect. Although this can’t repair the damaged nerves or restore function, it can help to prevent infection and further damage to the spine. After this, most treatments are aimed at allowing the child to lead as active and independent a life as possible.
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