Spina Bifida

Overview

Mayo Clinic has significant experience and expertise in treating children and adults with spina bifida. Children with this disorder often need care by multiple specialists, including neurosurgeons, physiatrists, geneticists and urologists. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has a special Spina Bifida Clinic to help coordinate this multispeciality care.

Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is ranked No. 1 in Neurology and Neurosurgery by U.S. News and World Report.

Diagnosis

A pregnant woman has no symptoms to indicate her fetus has spina bifida. A number of prenatal screening tests can be performed to detect this condition before birth, which can help parents and medical providers prepare for treatment. Read more about spina bifida diagnosis.

Treatment Approach

Spina bifida can affect many parts of the body and nervous system. In addition to surgery, physical therapy and early intervention, a child with spina bifida may need treatment for incontinence (inability to control urine and bowel movements), as well as bracing for the legs or spine. Read more about spina bifida treatment options.

Spina bifida is a serious birth defect that occurs when the tissue surrounding the developing spinal cord of a fetus doesn't close as it should in the developing fetus. It occurs in three forms.

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About Spina Bifida

Spina bifida is a serious birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord does not close properly early in a child's development in the womb. This condition can cause a portion of the spinal cord and the surrounding structures to develop outside the body. Spina bifida can be mild to severe depending on the type of defect, how big it is, where it is and if other problems are associated with it. Spina bifida affects 1,500 to 2,000 babies (about 1 in every 2,000 births) in the United States each year. It occurs in three forms.

Fortunately, with the proper medical care, children with spina bifida can lead active and productive lives. Most are successful in school and many are actively involved in modified sports activities despite their physical challenges. Twenty-year follow-up studies of children with spina bifida show they enter college in the same proportion as the general population, and many are actively employed. With recent advancements in care for these children, their prognosis continues to improve.

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