Spina bifida
Overview
Spina bifida happens when a baby’s spine and spinal cord do not fully develop in the womb. It's usually diagnosed in pregnancy or just after birth.
Symptoms
Symptoms of spina bifida are caused by damage to the spine, spinal cord, brain and nervous system while a baby is still in the womb. How severe the symptoms are will depend on where the damage is on the spine and what type of spina bifida it is. Symptoms of open spina bifida include: weakness in your legs that makes it difficult to walk, or not being able to walk at all (paralysis)difficulty controlling when you pee or poo (incontinence)a build-up of fluid on your brain (hydrocephalus), which can damage the brain and cause learning difficultiesloss of feeling in your legs and around your bottom, so you may not feel pain or hot or coldyour bones not developing properly, such as having a curved spine (scoliosis) Symptoms of closed spina bifida include: pain or numbness in your legs or backweakness in your legsfatty lumps, a hairy patch or deep dimples on your back when you’re borndifficulty controlling when you pee or poo (incontinence) Closed spina bifida may not cause any symptoms. There is treatment and support available for the symptoms of spina bifida. Every person's needs will be different depending on their symptoms. Support you might need includes: physiotherapyto help with movement, prevent bone problems and muscle lossoccupational therapyto help you carry out everyday activities and become more independentmobility aidsto help you walk or move around, such as wheelchairs, leg splints and bracessurgery for bone and joint problems (orthopaedic surgery) such as the hip joint moving out of place (hip dislocation) orclub foot(where the feet turn inwards)treatment for problems peeing (urinary incontinence) and problems pooing (bowel incontinence)self-care advice for looking after your joints, skin and feet
Causes
It is not known exactly what causes spina bifida, but some things can increase the chances of a baby being born with it. These include: not getting enough folic acid or vitamin B12 during pregnancyhaving a close family member with spina bifidataking some medicines during pregnancy such assodium valproateorcarbamazepine, which are used to treat epilepsy and some mental health conditions
Treatment
Surgery to the spine is the main treatment for open spina bifida. It will not reverse nerve damage, but it can close up the spine, prevent more damage and remove any fluid on the brain (hydrocephalus). Closed spina bifida does not usually need treatment, although sometimes surgery is needed. You may also need long-term treatment and support to manage symptoms of spina bifida. There is treatment and support available for the symptoms of spina bifida. Every person's needs will be different depending on their symptoms. Support you might need includes: physiotherapyto help with movement, prevent bone problems and muscle lossoccupational therapyto help you carry out everyday activities and become more independentmobility aidsto help you walk or move around, such as wheelchairs, leg splints and bracessurgery for bone and joint problems (orthopaedic surgery) such as the hip joint moving out of place (hip dislocation) orclub foot(where the feet turn inwards)treatment for problems peeing (urinary incontinence) and problems pooing (bowel incontinence)self-care advice for looking after your joints, skin and feet