What is the most serious complication of spina bifida?

Chiari malformation: Most people with severe cases of spina bifida are also born with a Chiari malformation, which causes brain dysfunction. There are several types of Chiari malformation, but the one closely connected to spina bifida is Type II.

What happens when spinal fluid goes to the brain?

The loss of CSF causes the previously cushioned brain to sag inside the skull, which results in a headache. Loss of fluid also causes a lowering of pressure within the skull, a condition called intracranial hypotension.

What is a shunt for spina bifida?

If a baby with spina bifida has hydrocephalus, a surgeon can put in a shunt. A shunt is a small hollow tube that will help drain the fluid from the baby’s brain and protect it from too much pressure. Additional surgery might be needed to change the shunt as the child grows up or if it becomes clogged or infected.

What kind of brain defect is spina bifida?

Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect in which the neural tube (the structure in an embryo that becomes the brain and spinal cord) does not completely close during development in the womb.

Can a person with spina bifida also have hydrocephalus?

Approximately 90% of people born with spina bifida also have Hydrocephalus. Somewhere along the CSF pathways, the flow of cerebrospinal fluid has been obstructed. How is Hydrocephalus Treated? Hydrocephalus is usually treated by insertion of a “shunt”.

How to diagnose open spina bifida in children?

In an analysis of 30 cases with open spina bifida we observed, as a sign of fluid leakage and gradual development of Arnold–Chiari II malformation, a shift of the posterior brain towards the occipital bone.

What happens to legs when you have spina bifida?

Spina bifida will often result in varying degrees of weakness to the legs. This muscle imbalance can then lead to the development of musculoskeletal problems, such as hip dislocation, joint contractures and clubfeet .