Spina Bifida

Spina Bifida is a congenital condition in which part of the spinal cord is not enclosed by the spinal column. It develops one month into fetus development, and is usually diagnosed before birth by ultrasound or bloodwork. Causes are unknown, but having a high fever during pregnancy can increase the likelihood of spina bifida developing. There are different levels of severity, with some people experiencing no symptoms and some people being extremely disabled with nerve damage. Myelomeningocele is the most severe form. Most patients with disabling Spina Bifida also have hydrocephalus, and will need shunt placement to drain fluid off the brain. Shunts often malfunction or get infected, so it's likely you'll take shunt images at some point to evaluate them.