Patient's question:
My wife gave birth to a child with spina bifida. Could you please explain what is going on?Doctor's answer:
Spinal dysraphism is a congenital malformation of the spine, also known as vertebral dysraphism or incomplete spinal closure. It is primarily caused by a developmental defect in the neural tube during embryonic development in the mother, and it is now widely believed to be associated with folic acid deficiency in early pregnancy. The fundamental pathological changes of spinal dysraphism include varying degrees of absence of spinous processes and laminae of the vertebrae, leading to incomplete closure of the spinal canal and direct contact between the contents of the spinal canal and extraspinal tissues, or even protrusion of these contents outside the spinal canal. The condition can involve one or multiple vertebrae and is often accompanied by malformations of the nervous system or other systems. Spinal dysraphism is most commonly found in the lumbosacral region, followed by the cervical region, with fewer cases occurring in other areas.