Spina Bifida: Overview
Spina bifida is a birth defect that afflicts approximately 1 in every 1,000 children born in the United States each year. The condition is characterized by a malformation of one or more vertebrae that surround the spinal cord.
Spina bifida has three stages of severity. The most common and least severe form occurs when the vertebrae, while not developed completely, nevertheless manage to contain the spinal cord in a near normal state. Meningocele, a more severe form of spina bifida, is characterized by the protrusion of the outer layer of the spinal cord (the meninges) through the back. The most severe form of spina bifida is known as myelocele in which the entire spinal cord protrudes through the back. Children born with the most severe forms of spina bifida require intensive medical care and may be severely handicapped.
Spina bifida tends to occur in certain geographical areas more so than others. For instance, the rate of spina bifida in some cities along the Texas / Mexico border is much higher than the national average. Researchers suspect industrial and agricultural pollution may be to blame.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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