Commonly Asked Questions About Pediatric Spina Bifida Treatment

If you are considering pediatric spina bifida treatment for your child, you should first understand more about it. There are different ways of approaching this condition. Your child’s doctor can determine the treatment that makes the most sense. Before you begin treating spina bifida, prepare yourself by asking the doctor certain questions. This will give you comfort and peace of mind that your child is in good hands.

An understanding of spina bifida

Spina bifida is a serious disease that occurs as a baby is developing in the mother’s womb. This birth defect is the result of the spine and spinal cord not forming correctly. It also involves something called the neural tube, which eventually becomes the baby’s spinal cord and brain. When this portion does not form properly, the baby can be born with defects in the spine.

This disease can range in levels of severity. Some babies are born with moderate or even mild cases of spina bifida. Others have profound defects that form exposed sacks on the baby’s back. As a result, the baby can develop infections and become paralyzed or have significant impairments of bladder and bowel function.

Is pediatric spina bifida treatment always necessary?

There are two types of spina bifida: spina bifida occulta and myelomeningocele. The latter is the most serious and will require a lifetime of care for the patient. Medical treatment can begin before birth. But spina bifida occulta may not even present any symptoms. In some cases, there are no complications from the disease, so the doctor will only keep an eye on the patient’s condition.

What is prenatal surgery like?

For more serious instances of spina bifida, pediatric spina bifida treatment should start without delay. At around 26 weeks of the mother’s pregnancy, doctors can perform surgery. To do this, the surgeon will open up the mother, exposing the uterus. The surgeon will then repair the developing baby’s spine. This approach is not right for all mothers and their babies. It requires a high level of experience and training.

What is postnatal surgery like?

If the mother and doctors decide that prenatal surgery does not make sense, an operation should occur immediately after birth. This should be the case with myelomeningocele. With this condition, spinal nerves will be exposed, which increases the likelihood of life-threatening infections. To do the surgery, the surgeon will place the nerves and spine inside the baby’s back. The surgeon then covers the spine with muscle and skin. The doctor will also place a shunt in the baby’s brain. This reduces the risk of the baby developing hydrocephalus.

Effective care is possible

If your child has spina bifida, you probably worry about the outlook. The good news is that with prompt attention and care from a team of health care providers, your child can live a healthy life. When pediatric spina bifida treatment starts early, your baby can avoid paralysis and other severe complications that can come from the disease. Talk to your doctor today if you have other questions and concerns.

Get more information about Dr. William G. Loudon, Pediatric Neurosurgery in Orange at https://www.drloudonpediatricneurosurgery.com.

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