Spina bifida

Spina bifida describes birth defects caused by an incomplete closure of one or more vertebral arches of the spine, resulting in malformations of the spinal cord. The spinal membranes and spinal cord may protrude through the absence of vertebral arches (called a cleft). These malformations fall into three categories: spina bifida occulta, spina bifida cystica (myelomeningocele) and meningocele.

Treatment

There is no cure for spina bifida. To prevent further drying and damage of the nervous tissue and to prevent infection, doctors operate as soon as possible to close the opening on the back, but there is no operation that can fix damaged nerves. During the operation, the spinal cord and its nerve roots are put into place and covered with skin.

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Doctors are now experimenting and evaluating the efficacy of in-utero surgery to correct the spina bifida lesion. The in-utero surgery occurs in the womb and before birth. In the 4th or 5th month, surgeons have a window of opportunity to perform in-utero surgery by opening the mother's abdomen, and entering the uterus to operate on the spina bifida lesion found on the fetus. Skin grafts are used to cover the exposed spinal cord and protect the spinal cord from further damage caused by prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid. It is believed that the in-utero surgery will decrease some of the damaging effects of the spina bifida lesion, but it is not a cure. The in-utero surgery is currently undergoing NIH clinical trials and the results of these trials and studies (MOMs study at About.com and Official MOMs Website) will not be completed until 2008.

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