Spina bifida

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
When to seek medical advice

Tests and diagnosis
Complications
Treatments and drugs
Prevention
Coping and support

Definition

Spina bifida is a serious birth defect that occurs when the tissue surrounding the developing spinal cord of a fetus doesn't close properly.

Spina bifida is part of a group of birth defects called neural tube defects. The neural tube is the embryonic structure that eventually develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them. In babies with spina bifida, a portion of the neural tube fails to develop or close properly, causing defects in the spinal cord and in the bones of the backbone.

Spina bifida is one of the more common birth defects in the United States. When treatment for spina bifida is necessary, it's done through surgery, although such treatment doesn't always completely resolve the problem.

Symptoms