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| Spina Bifida Surgery | | | | What are the symptoms of spina bifida ? |
| | | | | The following are the most common symptoms of |
| What is spina bifida ? | | | | spina bifida. However, each baby may experience |
| Spina bifida, also called myelodysplasia, is a condition in | | | | symptoms differently. |
| which there is abnormal development of the back | | | | |
| bones, spinal cord, surrounding nerves, and the | | | | Symptoms may include : - |
| fluid-filled sac that surrounds the spinal cord. This | | | | - Abnormal appearance of the baby's back, varying |
| neurological condition can cause a portion of the spinal | | | | from a small, hairy patch or a dimple or birthmark, to |
| cord and the surrounding structures to develop | | | | a sac-like protrusion that is found along the back |
| outside, instead of inside, the body. The defect can | | | | bone area. |
| occur anywhere along the spine. | | | | - Bowel and bladder problems (i.e., constipation, |
| | | | | incontinence). |
| What are the types of spina bifida ? | | | | - Loss of feeling below the area of the lesion, |
| - Spina bifida occulta | | | | especially in babies born with a meningocele or |
| - Meningocele | | | | myelomeningocele. |
| - Myelomeningocele | | | | - Inability to move the lower legs (paralysis). |
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| What causes spina bifida ? | | | | How is spina bifida diagnosed ? |
| Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect. Neural | | | | Blood tests : - The American College of Obstetrics |
| tube defects, including spina bifida (open spine) and | | | | and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends that a blood |
| anencephaly (open skull), are seen in one to two out | | | | test be offered between 15 to 20 weeks to all |
| of 1,000 live births. | | | | women who are pregnant who have not previously |
| During pregnancy, the human brain and spine begin as | | | | had a child with an ONTD and who do not have a |
| a flat plate of cells, which rolls into a tube, called the | | | | family history of ONTD. |
| neural tube. If all or part of the neural tube fails to | | | | |
| close, leaving an opening, this is known as an open | | | | Prenatal ultrasound (Also called sonography.) : - a |
| neural tube defect (or ONTD). This opening may be | | | | diagnostic imaging technique which uses |
| left exposed (80 percent of the time), or covered | | | | high-frequency sound waves and a computer to |
| with bone or skin (20 percent of the time). | | | | create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. |
| Anencephaly and spina bifida are the most common | | | | Ultrasounds are used to view internal organs as they |
| types of ONTD, while encephalocele (in which there | | | | function, and to assess blood flow through various |
| is a protrusion of the brain or its coverings through | | | | vessels. Prenatal ultrasound may be able to detect an |
| the skull) is much rarer. Anencephaly occurs when the | | | | ONTD, and may be used to examine other organs |
| neural tube fails to close at the base of the skull, | | | | and body systems of the fetus. |
| while spina bifida occurs when the neural tube fails to | | | | |
| close somewhere along the spine. | | | | Amniocentesis : - a procedure that involves inserting |
| In over 90 percent of cases, an ONTD occurs | | | | a long, thin needle through the mother's abdomen |
| without a prior family history of these defects. | | | | into the amniotic sac to withdraw a small sample of |
| ONTDs result from a combination of genes inherited | | | | the amniotic fluid for examination. The fluid is then |
| from both parents, coupled with environmental | | | | tested to determine the presence or absence of an |
| factors. For this reason, ONTDs are considered | | | | open neural tube defect. Small or closed defects may |
| multifactorial traits, meaning "many factors," both | | | | not be picked up by this test. |
| genetic and environmental, contribute to their | | | | |
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| Prevention of neural tube defects | | | | |
| Because the neural tube closes 28 to 32 days after | | | | We Care Core Values |
| conception and before many women are aware they | | | | We have a very simple business model that keeps |
| are pregnant, normal development of the brain and | | | | you as the centre. |
| spinal cord may be affected during these first three | | | | Having the industry’s most elaborate and |
| to eight weeks of pregnancy by the following : - | | | | exclusive Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams |
| - Genetic problems. | | | | stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you |
| - Exposure to hazardous chemicals/substances. | | | | the smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. |
| - Lack of proper vitamins and nutrients in the diet. | | | | With a ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five |
| - Infection. | | | | patients our patient care standards are unmatched |
| - Prescription drug and alcohol consumption. | | | | across the sub continent. |