5 Health Issues A Person With Spina Bifida Might Have
When the spine and spinal cord do not develop properly, it becomes the cause of spina bifida, a birth anomaly that is a particular form of a neural tube defect. The neural tube is a structure in a growing embryo that eventually gives rise to the baby's brain, spinal cord, and surrounding tissues.
Spina bifida in children occurs early after conception when the neural tube, from which the brain and spine develop, does not close properly. In general, spina bifida is one of the most complicated congenital disorders affecting a person's life.
Due to better spina bifida treatment, survival rates have increased dramatically in recent decades.
The following discussion from Pediatric Orthopedics of Brandon and Riverview intends to make people aware of what they can do to prevent spina bifida and how to manage spina bifida if they have it.
Health Problems People With Spina Bifida Might Have
Here are a few problems that individuals struggling with Spina bifida may be having;
Hydrocephalus
Spina bifida in children develops hydrocephalus, a condition often referred to as water (cerebrospinal fluid) in the brain. This condition causes the cavities in the brain, called ventricles, to become too large, causing the head to swell.
Surgeons can treat hydrocephalus with a shunt, a tube surgically implanted in the brain to drain the fluid into the abdomen. This procedure protects the child from too much pressure on the head.
However, it’s in their best interest to replace the shunt as the child grows or if it becomes blocked. Children with spina bifida who develop hydrocephalus need special monitoring and appropriate treatment to prevent brain damage.
Knotted Spine
In many people with overt spina bifida, the spinal canals get entangled. In its natural state, the base of the spinal cord moves freely within the spinal canal.
Note that the spinal canal usually connects to your spinal cord. As children grow, their spinal cord expands, which can cause irreversible damage to the spinal nerves.
Abnormal curvatures of the spine are characterized by scoliosis and kyphosis. Scoliosis refers to an abnormal lateral curve, and kyphosis refers to an abnormal humpbacked curve; the constriction of the spinal cord mainly causes these.
Surgical spinal cord release is often used as a treatment for a tethered spinal cord. It helps neurosurgeons reduce the risk of further nerve damage to your child.
During surgery, our neurosurgeons use advanced neuromonitoring that allows them to monitor the nerves and muscles of your child's lower body.
Problems With Bowel And Bladder
This symptom of spina bifida often occurs in patients with severe forms of spina bifida because the nerves that control bladder and bowel functions are entirely damaged. Therefore, they cannot control their bladder and bowel.
Children with neurogenic bladders have either a flaccid bladder (over-extended bladder) or a spastic bladder (rigid bladder). In a flaccid bladder, the bladder expands and can hold too much urine, while in a spastic bladder, it cannot hold as much urine as usual.
Bowel movements occur in nearly 90% of spina bifida cases because the damaged spinal cord nerves control the movement of stool through the body. A neurogenic bowel causes either bowel obstruction (no feeling in the rectum and anus) or constipation (the feeling is intact, but muscles cannot push stool out).
The most common spina bifida treatment for this is clean intermittent catheterization, in which doctors insert a soft, flexible tube into the bladder to drain urine. When done correctly, catheterization helps prevent infection and lowers bladder pressure.
To control a child's bowels, As a parent or guardian, you will be advised to administer laxatives that encourage regular bowel movements.
Loss Of Mobility
Spina bifida patients use a variety of mobility techniques. These include using wheelchairs, crutches, or walkers and walking without support or assistance. Wheelchairs can be used by people with spina bifida that is further up the spine, near the head.
Spina bifida which is lower on the spine, near the hips, can affect a person's ability to use their legs more, allowing them to walk with or without the help of crutches, splints, or strollers.
All people should engage in regular physical activity, but those with movement-limiting conditions like spina bifida should do the following:
Participate in teams and sports for people with and without impairments, such as swimming.
Play sports games with friends.
Take a walk around the neighborhood.
Do exercises recommended by the physical therapist.
Attend summer camps and recreation centers that are accessible to people with impairments.
Participate in community initiatives, such as Toddlers with Disabilities and Special Education Services for Preschoolers with Disabilities, which are free in many areas
Learning Disabilities
Spina bifida can lead to physical and mental problems ranging from mild to severe. The size and location of the spinal opening affect the severity of the condition. The coordination and sensory problems in students with spina bifida affect their learning ability.
They may also have problems with speech, vision, and short-term memory. Nonetheless, each child's needs are very different, so it is essential to consider this.
Teachers and parents should emphasize essential points and vocabulary in class so they are easier to understand. This method should reduce the emphasis on written answers, which are difficult for some children to express.
The teaching method helps the child maintain interest in the lesson and build confidence. It also helps the child understand what is being said, enhancing their learning ability
The health problems of spina bifida can be managed by parents with careful treatment and observation of the child. The symptoms of spina bifida usually show up in the health problems mentioned above, which can be treated by surgery, exercises, and some medical procedures.
Precautions
As much as spina bifida can be considered genetic, parents can keep them in control during pregnancy. All women who are pregnant should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, and taking drugs that could harm the unborn child. In addition, every woman should have a blood test to determine if she has taken enough folic acid. Women who do not have enough folic acid in their bodies should take supplements.
At POBAR, we have a team of pediatric specialists who are committed to walking with your child through the journey of treating your child’s spina bifida in Brandon & Riverview, Fl. For more information, feel free to get in touch!