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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Health Check Tools

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Men
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect - a type of birth defect of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. It happens if the spinal column of the fetus doesn't close completely during the first month of pregnancy. This can damage the nerves and spinal cord. Screening tests during pregnancy can check for spina bifida. Sometimes it is discovered only after the baby is born.

The symptoms of spina bifida vary from person to person. Most people with spina bifida are of normal intelligence. Some people need assistive devices such as braces, crutches, or wheelchairs. They may have learning difficulties, urinary and bowel problems, or hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain.

The exact cause of spina bifida is unknown. It seems to run in families. Taking folic acid can reduce the risk of having a baby with spina bifida. It's in most multivitamins. Women who could become pregnant should take it daily.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Start Here

• Spina Bifida (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
• Spina Bifida (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Spina Bifida? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Folic Acid: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Meningocele repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• What Are the Treatments for Spina Bifida and Related Conditions? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Living With

• Health Issues and Treatments (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Learning Among Children with Spina Bifida (Spina Bifida Association of America) - PDF
• Living with Spina Bifida (at different ages) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Precocious Puberty (Spina Bifida Association of America) - PDF

Related Issues

• Are There Disorders or Conditions Associated with Spina Bifida? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
• Hydrocephalus and Shunts (Spina Bifida Association of America) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Specifics

• Spina Bifida Occulta (Spina Bifida Association of America) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Genetics and Spina Bifida (Spina Bifida Association of America) Also in Spanish
• Spina bifida: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)

Health Check Tools

• Quiz on Spina Bifida (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Statistics and Research

• Spina Bifida Data and Statistics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Meningomyelocele (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Dysraphism (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Octopus Watch Fosters Family Resilience by Enhancing Occupational Engagement for Children...
• Article: Gait Function in Adults Aged 50 Years and Older With Spina...
• Article: Cognitive challenges in persons with spina bifida: Bearing on urological dysfunctions?
• Spina Bifida -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Also in Spanish
• March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish

Children

• Myelomeningocele (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)

Men

• Men's Health and Spina Bifida (Spina Bifida Association of America) - PDF

Patient Handouts

• Meningocele repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Myelomeningocele (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish