Spina Bifida- A Case Study

Abstract

Spina bifida comes from the Latin word “divided spine”, is a group of neural tube defects that involves the brain and the spinal cord and/or meninges. The first recorded case was in 1085 AD in Arabia. It occurs when the neural tube does not close during the baby’s development. There are three major types of spina bifida. Spina bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele. Meningocele is a rare form of neural tube defect in which the spinal cord develops normal but the meninges protrude from a spinal opening. This group of congenital anomalies of the CNS results from failure of the neural tube to close spontaneously. Normally the closure of the neural tube occurs around 28 days after fertilization. Myelodysplasia refers to any malformation of the spinal canal and cord.