Spina bifida

The human spine is formed by individual vertebrae and connective tissue discs in between. The vertebrae form the spinal canal. There are seven cervical, twelve thoracic, and five lumbar vertebrae. The intervertebral discs are the link between the individual vertebral bodies.

The little joints that link the vertebrae together are known as facet joints. They help to stabilize the spine and, together with the intervertebral discs, allow a certain degree of mobility of the spinal cord. The spinal canal should be wide enough to allow nerve roots to float freely in cerebrospinal fluid. The front border of the spinal canal is built by the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs, the side by the intervertebral joints (facets) and back by the ligamentum flavum (yellow band) and vertebral arches. Discs consist of an outer fibrous ring (annulus fibrosus), which surrounds an inner gel-like center (nucleus pulposus). The spinal cord and nerve roots lie within the spinal canal. The spinal cord extends downwards approx. to the 1st lumbar vertebra. Below, only nerve roots are present in the spinal canal. At the level of the intervertebral disc the nerve roots pass through the neural root foramina to exit the spinal canal. The spinal cord and nerve roots conduct electric-like signals from the skin and joints to the brain, and process of movement is initiated from the brain to the muscles.

Spina bifida is a birth defect due to failed closure of the neural tube. The neural tube is the embryonic structure that eventually forms the brain, spinal cord and their protective sheets. Normally, the neural tube forms early in the pregnancy and closes by the first month after conception. There are four types of spina bifida: occulta, closed neural tube defects, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.

Congenital malformation of the nerve roots and spinal cord

Depending on the nature, location and size of the spina bifida defect, symptoms can be severe or completely absent.

Symptoms may include

Complete/partial paralysis and numbness of the feet Urinary incontinence or retention

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the spina bifida present.