Do you deal with spina bifida?

A life-long story: Spina bifida prevention begins before pregnancy, with folate (folic acid) supplements. Tests are done in pregnancy to prevent spina bifida newborns. If born with it, a child enrolls in a spina bifida clinic at a childrens' hospital. The child needs help with peeing & pooping, mobility (braces, wheelchairs), and with integrating into regular schools. His life will be like that of someone paralyzed in both legs.

Spina Bifida(myelome: It is a birth defect in which the back bone and spinal canal do not close before birth and babies are born with sac sticking out of the middle and low back the defect has to be closed after birth but it may not restore normal function , intrauterine surgery for spina bifida has been performed by some.Incidence can be redoced 70% by Folic Acid prenatal it may be associated woth hydro/anen cephaly.

Yes: Yes, but rarely. This condition is not common and as a family physician, i see only what comes my way. Spina bifida is usually approached in a team concept, usualy dealing with a primary care doctor (pediatrician, family physician or internest) along with physical therapist, neurologists, neuro-surgeons, physiatrist (physical medicine specialists) and a host of others. There are many issues.

Yes, if GU problem/s: Spina bifida simply means that bony encasement of spinal canal is incomplete. Most cases are spina bifida occulta, do not have nerve or spinal cord involvement & require no treatment. I deal with patients who have involvement of underlying spinal cord & spinal nerves (myelocele) or both spinal cord coverings (meningocele) plus meningocele (myelomeningocele) having bladder & incontinence problems.

Spina bifida: Yes we do deal with spina bifida with a large multidisciplinary team that deals with all the various manifestations of this disorder including neurological, orthopedic, urological, therapy among other specialists.