Myelomeningocele is the most common and most serious form of spina bifida. It is a neural tube defect in which the bones of the spine do not completely form and an incomplete spinal canal is the result. Although myelomeningocele is most common in the lower back, it can happen anywhere along the spinal cord (Myelomeningocele, n.d.). This can affect as many as 1 out of every 4,000 infants. (Myelomeningocele, 2015) To better understand myelomeningocele, is to understand the causes and how it affects the body, the symptoms, and the exams/tests and treatments for it.
Unfortunately the cause for myelomeningocele is unknown, but it is believed that low levels of folic acid, which is an important part of the brain and spinal cord development, in a woman’s body before and during pregnancy plays …show more content…
It screens for a few different congenital diseases including myelomeningocele and Down syndrome (Myelomeningocele, 2015). If a higher-than-normal level of maternal alpha-fetoprotein in the blood is shown, the developing baby may have spina bifida, but further testing, such as an ultrasound or amniocentesis, is needed to confirm the diagnosis (Myelomeningocele, n.d.). In some highly specialized centers, intrauterine surgery, before the baby is born, close to the defect is offered to reduce the risk of some later complications. However, once the baby is born, surgery is usually recommended to repair the defect within the first few days of life. The infant must be handled carefully before surgery to reduce damage to the exposed spinal cord. Children who have hydrocephalus may need a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placed to help drain the extra fluid form the ventricles to the peritoneal cavity. Antibiotics may be used to treat or prevent infections, but most children will require lifelong treatment for problems that have resulted from the damage to the spinal cord and spinal nerves
Unfortunately the cause for myelomeningocele is unknown, but it is believed that low levels of folic acid, which is an important part of the brain and spinal cord development, in a woman’s body before and during pregnancy plays …show more content…
It screens for a few different congenital diseases including myelomeningocele and Down syndrome (Myelomeningocele, 2015). If a higher-than-normal level of maternal alpha-fetoprotein in the blood is shown, the developing baby may have spina bifida, but further testing, such as an ultrasound or amniocentesis, is needed to confirm the diagnosis (Myelomeningocele, n.d.). In some highly specialized centers, intrauterine surgery, before the baby is born, close to the defect is offered to reduce the risk of some later complications. However, once the baby is born, surgery is usually recommended to repair the defect within the first few days of life. The infant must be handled carefully before surgery to reduce damage to the exposed spinal cord. Children who have hydrocephalus may need a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placed to help drain the extra fluid form the ventricles to the peritoneal cavity. Antibiotics may be used to treat or prevent infections, but most children will require lifelong treatment for problems that have resulted from the damage to the spinal cord and spinal nerves