Spina
bifida is a birth
defect in which part of the
spinal column (the bony structure surrounding the spinal cord) does not close properly, so that a segment of the
cord is left exposed. The defect may involve only a few vertebrae, or it may leave a major section of the cord uncovered. The cord and/or membranes surrounding the cord may protrude. The
nerves in the protruding sac are protected by only a fragile membrane and can easily be damaged or infected. If untreated, most infants with
Spina bifida die of infection; many others are left with severe disability. In the United States spina bifida occurs in approximately one out of every 1,000 live births.
In the 1960s some hospitals instituted new surgical procedures soon after birth to place the
exposed nerves within the spinal cord and to alleviate the hydrocephaly associated with spina bifida. This surgery, combined with more intensive rehabilitation efforts, has brought many spina bifida babies to adolescence in an independent state. Despite therapy, however, many still have disabilities ranging from difficulty in walking to quadriplegia and mental retardation.
No cause is known for spina bifida. It usually appears in a family with no prior history of the condition, but once a woman has one such child she has a five-percent probability of bearing another. A blood test can detect most cases by the fourth month of pregnancy. Research has shown that women who take supplements of folic acid, a B vitamin, are less likely to have a baby with spina bifida.
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