FAQs About Spina Bifida

Stacy Neighbors

English 102
Lee Ann Dickerson
March 3, 2015

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What is Spina Bifida?
According to The Spina Bifida Association, Spina Bifida happens when a baby is in the
womb and the spinal column does not close all the way. 1 There are four different types
of Spina Bifida which range in severity and require different treatments to provide the
best possible outcome and quality of life for the child. The different types of Spina Bifida
include: Occult Spinal Dysraphism (OSD); in this type infants may have an abnormalities
in the way the spine grows which will be problematic as the child grows older. The
second type of defect the Spina Bifida Association names is Spina Bifida Occulta, also
known as hidden Spina Bifida because 15% of people have it and do not know it.
Meningocele is the third type of Spina Bifida and is characterized by a protruding sac
outside of the spine causing minimal disabilities. The fourth and most severe type of this
disorder is Spina Bifida Cystica. There are multiple concerns with this type because it can
affect the nerves, the brain and many other functions of the body.2
Why does a fetus get Spina Bifida?
This birth defect happens at the end of the first month of pregnancy if the two sides of
the embryo's neural tube (spine) fail to join together, leaving an open area, claims Kids
Health.3 Science has not been able to precisely detect a specific cause of the birth defect
but they speculate to many different reasons Spina Bifida occurs. Genetic, nutritional,
and environmental factors all play a role. Research studies indicate that insufficient
intake of folic acida common B vitaminin the mothers diet is a key factor in causing
Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects, claims The NINDS.4
When was the term Spina Bifida identified?
Kids Health explains, The term Spina Bifida comes from Latin and literally means
"split" or "open" spine.5 Nicolaes Tulp, a Dutch physician and surgeon discovered Spina
Bifida in the 1700s. Throughout history, records of similar diseases have existed but he
was able to define and characterize the birth defect more definitely. Also, Tulp coined the

1 What is Spina Bifida, Spina Bifida Association, accessed February 28, 2015,
http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.evKRI7OXIoJ8H/b.8277225/k.5A79/What_is_Spina
_Bifida.htm.
2 Ibid.

3 Spina Bifida, Kids Health, Nemours Foundation, accessed March 1, 2015,

5 Spina Bifida, Kids Health.

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term as Spina Bifida. 6 In 1761, an Italian medical researcher Giovanni Battista
Morgagni, correlated hydrocephalus and deformity to Spina Bifida. This discovery has
helped doctors today link certain aliments to the birth defect and has decreased the
likelihood of a misdiagnosis.7
Is Spina Bifida hereditary?
The Spina Bifida Association states that any woman can potentially have a baby with
Spina Bifida. However, having a parent or sibling with Spina Bifida increases the
conceiving a child with the birth defect 5 to 10 times but 95% of people with Spina
Bifida have no family history of it. Although heredity does play a role in developing the
birth defect, there are other contributors that raise the risk of the fetus having the defect.
A woman is at a 20-50 time greater risk of having a second pregnancy result in the fetus
having the defect.8 Also, insulin dependent diabetic mothers, certain anti-seizure
medications, obesity, race and ethnicity play a role in the chances of having a baby
affected by Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is more common among Caucasians and Hispanics
than any other race or nationality.9
Is Spina Bifida a physical or mental disease?
My Child, Without Limits suggests Spina Bifida can cause minor physical problems to
severe physical and mental disabilities. Although, the majority of people with Spina
Bifida do not have problems with normal mental development there are some who do
have challenges. How severe the complications are depend on the size and location of
the malformation, whether or not skin covers it, whether or not spinal nerves are exposed,
and which spinal nerves are involved. Most of the time all the nerves that are located
below the malformation, are affected. This means that the higher the malformation is on
the childs back, the greater the amount of nerve damage and loss of muscle function and
sensation, My Child, Without Limits indicates.10
What lifestyle adjustments must be made because of Spina Bifida?
6 Who discovered Spina Bifida? Who Discovered It?, accessed March 1, 2015,
http://discovery.yukozimo.com/who-discovered-spina-bifida/#top.
7 Ibid.

8 Spina Bifida, Kids Health.

10 What Kind of Complications Can Spina Bifida Cause?, My Child Without Limits,
accessed March 2, 2015, http://www.mychildwithoutlimits.org/understand/spinabifida/spina-bifida-complications/.

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Since Spina Bifida affects every person with it differently, the lifestyle adjustments for
each individual varies. Getting the right specialized care is vital to developing the child to
their full potential. The Center for Disease Control states, Children with spina bifida
higher on the spine (near the head) might have paralyzed legs and use wheelchairs. Those
with spina bifida lower on the spine (near the hips) might have more use of their legs and
use crutches, braces, or walkers, or they might be able to walk without these devices.11
No matter what obstacles present themselves, specialists are available to help assist in
giving the best possible quality of life to the child.12
Is there a cure for Spina Bifida?
The NINDS declares that there is no cure for Spina Bifida. Damaged nerve tissue is not
repairable and function to the damaged nerves cant be restored. Having risky,
experimental surgery while the fetus is in utero may stop additional damage but will not
correct damage that has already occurred. However, with so many medical advances over
the years, surgeries in severe cases will help to improve the quality of life for people born
with the birth defect. With the aid of crutches, wheelchair and braces, mobility can be
acquired and bring some normality to the childs life. The medical profession is always
advancing and over time there may be more options to prevent or advances for a cure.13
What are the positive outcomes of Spina Bifida?
According to NINDS, Prognosis, activity, and participation depend on the number and
severity of abnormalities and associated personal and environmental factors. Scientists
continue to study and research the birth defect, hoping to understand the genetics and
establish what factors make a child more susceptible to Spina Bifida. The NINDS states,
Lessons learned from this research will fill in gaps of knowledge about the causes of
neural tube defects and may lead to ways to prevent these disorders. The education
gained from these studies and the advancement of medical technology may one day help
prevent this disorder from affecting lives in the future.14

11 Living With Spina Bifida: School-Aged Children, Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, last modified September 18, 2014,
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/school-age.html
12 Ibid.
13 Spina Bifida Fact Sheet, NINDS.
14 Ibid.