What type of spina bifida causes hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus (from the Greek words hydor “water” and kephale “head”) occurs in 15-25% of children with open myelomeningocele (a form of spina bifida) at birth, though in most surgical series, the proportion of patients with myelomeningocele who require shunting reaches 80-90%.
What percentage of individuals with spina bifida also have hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus which is the excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), affects more than 85% of people with spina bifida.
Can you live a normal life with spina bifida?
“Most do well in school, and many play in sports. Because of today’s medicine, about 90% of babies born with Spina Bifida now live to be adults, about 80% have normal intelligence and about 75% play sports and do other fun activities.”
Can spina bifida be passed from father?
Genes are passed from parents to children. Sometimes changes in genes can cause spina bifida and other conditions. If you already have a child who is affected by a neural tube defect, you have a slightly higher risk of having another baby with the same condition.
How Bad Is Spinal Bifida?
When the neural tube doesn’t close all the way, the backbone that protects the spinal cord doesn’t form and close as it should. This often results in damage to the spinal cord and nerves. Spina bifida might cause physical and intellectual disabilities that range from mild to severe.
Can a person with spina bifida have a baby?
Spina bifida causes nerve damage that can affect sexual functioning. Most people with spina bifida are fertile, and can have children.
What are the long term effects of spina bifida?
Individuals born with spina bifida (myelomeningocele) face serious physical and social consequences, including paralysis, insensate skin, and potential social ostracism associated with loss of bowel and bladder control. Over time, muscle paralysis can produce contractures, joint dislocations, and spinal deformity.