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Spina bifida is a Neural Tube Defect (NTD) which literally means ‘split spine'. The vertebrae usually forms a protective shell of bones in which the spinal cord is housed. For people with spina bifida, the bones have not closed round the spinal cord.
It is then possible for the spinal cord, wrapped in membrane to bulge out. This defect can occur anywhere along the spine, from the neck to the tail bones, though it is most often found in the loin area. The affects can vary from mild to severe.
Why this happens is unknown, but lack of folate (folic acid) early in pregnancy has been found to be a contributory factor.
The consequences of this malformation vary with where the damage is located, to what extent the spinal cord and nerve roots are affected, and if the breakage is complete or partial. Neural impulses do not reach their destination in a normal way, leading to muscular deficiency with paralysis and reduced mobility, numbness, poor circulation in the legs and a higher risk of bone fracture. Many people become confined to wheelchairs and can develop dislocated hip joints and misaligned legs and back.
Spina Bifida, does not only imply reduced mobility, it also affects several other bodily functions. Among other things, the bladder's and rectum's nerve functionality is disturbed in 90% and 80%, respectively, of children with NTD.
Over 80% of children with Spina Bifida also develop hydrocephalus also known as ‘water on the brain’, which means that the fluid created in the brain cannot circulate freely. This fluid stays in the brain's cavities and applies pressure to the brain and in babies the skull is soft and this can expand and make the head grow. This can be treated by surgically placing a pressure-relieving shunt that is made of a thin hose with a pressure-regulating valve. This congenital brain alteration and the pressure it exerts on the brain can sometimes lead to delayed puberty, decreased fine motor skills, but also certain typical cognitive problems such as affected memory, difficulty understanding consequences and reduced initiative.
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