DOCSLIB.ORG

Beyond Crayons

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Beyond Crayons THE JEFFRAS’ PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES A HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS WITH SPINA BIFIDA SECTION 504 PLAN Background Plan Objectives & Goals Spina Bifida is the most common permanently Successful integration of a child with Spina Bifida disabling birth defect in the United States. Spina into school sometimes requires changes in school Bifida occurs when the spine of the baby fails to equipment or the curriculum. In adapting the school close. This creates an opening, or lesion, on the setting for the child with Spina Bifida, architectural spinal column. This takes place during the first factors should be considered. Section 504 of the month of pregnancy when the spinal column and Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires programs that brain, or neural tube, is formed. This happens before receive federal funding to make their facilities most women even know they are pregnant. Because accessible. This can occur through structural of the opening on the spinal column, the nerves in changes (for example, adding elevators or ramps) or the spinal column may be damaged and not work through schedule and location changes (for properly. This results in some degree of paralysis. example, offering a course on the ground floor). The higher the lesion is on the spinal column, the greater the paralysis. Surgery to close the spine is The Student has a recognized disability, Spina Bifida, generally done within hours after birth. Surgery helps that requires the accommodations and modifications to reduce the risk of infection and to protect the set out in this plan to ensure that the student has the spinal cord from greater damage. same opportunities and conditions for learning and academic testing as classmates, with minimal The effects of Spina Bifida are different for every disruption of the student’s regular school schedule person. It is a life-long disability with ongoing and with minimal time away from the classroom. medical challenges. Up to 90% of those born with the most severe form, myelomeningocele, also have hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and must have References surgery to insert a “shunt” that helps drain the fluid. • Lutkenhoff, M. (Ed.). (1999). Children with Spina The shunt stays in place for the lifetime of the person Bifida: A parents' guide. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine. and often needs to be adjusted with multiple surgeries as people grow and get older. Other • National Institute of Neurological Disorders an conditions that are common for people with Spina Stroke (NINDS). (2001). NINDS Spina Bifida info page. Bifida include full or partial paralysis, nervous system • Sandler, A. (1997). Living with Spina Bifida: A guide for complications, bladder and bowel control families and professionals. Chapel Hill, NC: University difficulties, learning disabilities, depression, latex of North Carolina Press. allergy, and social and sexual issues. Quite often, however, they must have a series of operations • Spina Bifida Association. (2007). Learning Among Children with Spina Bifida. Washington, DC. throughout their childhood. Shunt Malfunction and latex allergy reactions are the most common health • Spina Bifida Association. (2007). Educational Issues emergencies for students with Spina Bifida. Among Children with Spina Bifida. Washington, DC. Definitions used in this Plan 2. EDUCATIONAL ISSUES Myelomeningocele: This defect occurs when the Children with Spina Bifida/Hydrocephalus often meninges (protective covering of the spinal cord) show unique learning strengths and weaknesses that and spinal nerves come through the open part of the affect their schoolwork. Parents and schools need to spine. This is the most serious type of Spina Bifida; it work together to help young people meet their causes nerve damage and severe disabilities. physical, social, emotional, and academic goals. In addition, it is often important to refer the child for a Hydrocephalus, or water on the brain, occurs in special education assessment, in order to fully 70-90% of myelomeningocele cases, and Without evaluate the effects of Spina Bifida on development treatment, mental retardation or death may result. (such as intelligence, academic levels, visual perception, and receptive and expressive language Meningocele: The protective coatings (meninges) skills.) Neuropsychological evaluations can provide come through the open part of the spine like a sac more specific insight to changes in brain that is pushed out. Cerebrospinal fluid is in the sac development and their affects on intelligence, and there is usually no nerve damage. Individuals language, learning, and development. These may usually suffer only minor disabilities. New problems include attention span, perceptual-motor processes, can develop later in life. reasoning and problem solving, organization and sequencing skills, and memory. It is important for Occulta: Spina Bifida Occulta is often called hidden teachers to identify these problems early by Spina Bifida. In this usually harmless for of Spina watching for restlessness, distractibility, and Bifida, the spinal cord and the nerves are usually forgetfulness. Difficulties may include: normal and there is no opening on the back. There is ATTENTION a small defect or gap in a few of the small bones It is common for children with Spina Bifida to (vertebrae) that make up the spine. The underlying struggle with paying attention. They might miss neural tube defect is completely covered with skin. assignments, miscopy the assignments or work, be Frequently, there are telltale signs on close generally slow in completing work, or miss social examination of the back. Although there may be no cues from others. They generally are better able to motor or sensory impairments evident at birth, pay attention when listening than when seeing. subtle, progressive neurological deterioration often Suggestions: becomes evident in later childhood or adulthood. 1. Seat child in the front row or near the teacher to reduce distractions. Academic Accomodations 2. Gain attention and eye contact prior to instructions. 3. Give clear, simple, step-by-step instructions and 1. BOWEL AND BLADDER repeat if necessary. Check that the child understands what is expected of them. Many children with Spina Bifida need training to 4. Make short assignments that can be completed learn to manage their bowel and bladder functions. successfully. Some require catheterization, or the insertion of a tube to permit passage of urine. The courts have COMPREHENSION held that clean, intermittent catheterization is Children with Spina Bifida sometimes have a hard necessary to help the child benefit from and have time understanding things even though they seem access to special education and related services. The to understand. For example, some seem to speak age at which a child begins to work toward urinary well, but when they have to explain what they said, continence is individualized based on their physical or respond to questions, they seem disorganized, capabilities and social situation. When a urinary and talk about irrelevant things. continence program is initiated, it should be Suggestions: continued in a structured school environment. A 1. Use demonstrations and simplified expressions to successful bladder management program can be help the child “get a picture” of what is being said incorporated into the regular school day. (or read). 2. As the child begins to read, talk with him/her 3. Keep the number of items as few as possible that about what they are reading to be sure they know have to be used at one time. what they’re reading. 4. Encourage organized work habits and explicitly 3. Help the child capture “the main idea” of a story, explain basic strategies. movie or conversation. HANDWRITING DIFFICULTIES 3. HYDROCEPHALUS Children with Spina Bifida often find handwriting a Many children with Spina Bifida also have laborious task, with the end product being barely hydrocephalus and require a shunt. The most legible. Poor handwriting can stem from poorly common problems with shunts are they can plug or developed hand and fine motor control, problems obstruct, break or come apart, resulting in shunt with visual discrimination, and spatial judgment. malfunction. The signs of shunt malfunction are Suggestions: varied and can be confusing for everyone involved. 1. Teach directionality of words and sentences. Teachers must be aware of the symptoms of shunt 2. Encourage the use of special grips on pencils or malfunction. chubby pens. COMMON SYMPTOMS 3. Encourage correct posture for neater work. 1. Headache 4. Encourage the consistent use of one hand. 2. Nausea 5. Systematic teaching of writing skills. 6. Focus on letter formation and the appearance of 3. Vomiting finished letters. LESS COMMON SYMPTOMS MEMORY 1. Seizures Children with Spina Bifida often have difficulty in 2. Change in intellect, performance, or personality remembering things they see or hear. Even if they 3. Increased swallowing problems understand it, they may not remember it later. 4. Worsening muscle function, balance, coordination Children with this problem may find it difficult 5. Worsening bowel or bladder function copying work from the blackboard and students may 6. Worsening scoliosis or orthopedic deformities only be able to remember one word at a time. 7. Pain at the Spina Bifida closure site Suggestions: 1. Give brief, clear simple instructions to assist with 4. LATEX ALLERGY poor short-term memory. People with Spina Bifida are at a significant risk of 2. Repetition of information is often helpful for these being allergic to natural rubber latex. Research children, like when they are learning multiplication studies have shown that up to 73% of people with tables or spelling words. Spina Bifida are sensitive to latex, meaning that 3. Teach and encourage the use of note-taking, exposure to it can cause serious health problems. outlining and summary skills. This allergic sensitivity may even be so severe as to ORGANIZATION AND PLANNING be life – threatening. Latex is often a hidden Children with Spina Bifida may have trouble keeping ingredient in consumer products. Gloves used in things organized. This is clearly seen when school food preparation, balloons used in festive displays, materials, papers, etc.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pushing the Limits of Prenatal Ultrasound: a Case of Dorsal Dermal Sinus Associated with an Overt Arnold–Chiari Malformation and a 3Q Duplication
    reproductive medicine Case Report Pushing the Limits of Prenatal Ultrasound: A Case of Dorsal Dermal Sinus Associated with an Overt Arnold–Chiari Malformation and a 3q Duplication Olivier Leroij 1, Lennart Van der Veeken 2,*, Bettina Blaumeiser 3 and Katrien Janssens 3 1 Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; [email protected] 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Antwerp, 2650 Edegem, Belgium 3 Department of Medical Genetics, University Hospital and University of Antwerp, 2650 Edegem, Belgium; [email protected] (B.B.); [email protected] (K.J.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: We present a case of a fetus with cranial abnormalities typical of open spina bifida but with an intact spine shown on both ultrasound and fetal MRI. Expert ultrasound examination revealed a very small tract between the spine and the skin, and a postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of a dorsal dermal sinus. Genetic analysis found a mosaic 3q23q27 duplication in the form of a marker chromosome. This case emphasizes that meticulous prenatal ultrasound examination has the potential to diagnose even closed subtypes of neural tube defects. Furthermore, with cerebral anomalies suggesting a spina bifida, other imaging techniques together with genetic tests and measurement of alpha-fetoprotein in the amniotic fluid should be performed. Citation: Leroij, O.; Van der Veeken, Keywords: dorsal dermal sinus; Arnold–Chiari anomaly; 3q23q27 duplication; mosaic; marker chro- L.; Blaumeiser, B.; Janssens, K. mosome Pushing the Limits of Prenatal Ultrasound: A Case of Dorsal Dermal Sinus Associated with an Overt Arnold–Chiari Malformation and a 3q 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Autosomal Recessive Klippel-Feil Syndrome
    J Med Genet: first published as 10.1136/jmg.19.2.130 on 1 April 1982. Downloaded from Journal ofMedical Genetics, 1982, 19, 130-134 Autosomal recessive Klippel-Feil syndrome ELIAS OLIVEIRA DA SILVA From the Departamento de Biologia Geral, SecCdo de Genetica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, and Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP), Recife, Brazil SUMMARY An inbred kindred with 12 cases of Klippel-Feil syndrome (seven females and five males) is reported. Inheritance is undoubtedly autosomal recessive. The main characteristic of the syndrome is fusion of cervical vertebrae. In 1912, Klippel and Feill reported the first clinical Methods details and necropsy findings of a syndrome char- acterised by the triad short or absent neck, severe A total of 59 members of the family, including all limitation of head movement, and low posterior living affected persons (11), were clinically examined hairline. An Egyptian mummy (from 500 BC) is the and radiological studies were performed in eight oldest subject in whom Klippel-Feil syndrome has patients. The other three refused to submit to been seen.2 Another interesting observation is the x-ray examination. The patients ranged in age from similarity between the figure of an old man depicted 9 to 59 years. by the English painter William Blake (1757-1827) The genealogical data was collected with the co- and the appearance of persons with Klippel-Feil operation of people in four generations and, in case syndrome.3 The incidence of the syndrome is of doubtful information, it was checked with estimated at about 1 in 42 000 births.4 Some authors different members of the family.
    [Show full text]
  • Cleidocranial Dysplasia with Spina Bifida: Case Report [I] Displasia Cleido-Craniana Com Espinha Bífida: Relato De Caso
    ISSN 1807-5274 Rev. Clín. Pesq. Odontol., Curitiba, v. 6, n. 2, p. 179-184, maio/ago. 2010 Licenciado sob uma Licença Creative Commons [T] CleidoCranial dysplasia with spina bifida: case report [I] Displasia cleido-craniana com espinha bífida: relato de caso [A] Mubeen Khan[a], rai puja[b] [a] Professor and head of Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore - India. [b] Postgraduate student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore - India, e-mail: [email protected] [R] abstract oBJeCtiVe: To present and discuss a case of a rare disease in a 35 year old otherwise healthy male Indian in origin reported to the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology of the Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore, India. disCUssion: The cleidocranial dysplasia is a rare disease which can occur either spontaneously (40%) or by an autosomal dominant inheritance. The dentists are, most of the times, the first professionals who patients look for to solve their problem, since there is a delay in the eruption and /or absence of permanent teeth. In the present case multiple missing teeth was the reason for patient’s visit to odontologist. ConClUsion: An early diagnosis allows proper orientation for the treatment, offering a better life quality for the patient. [P] Keywords: Cleidocranial dysplasia. Aplastic clavicles. Delayed eruption. Supernumerary teeth. Spina bifida. [B] Resumo OBJETIVO: Apresentar e discutir um caso de doença rara em paciente masculino, de 35 anos de idade, sadio, de modo geral, de origem indiana, que foi encaminhado ao Departamento de Medicina Bucal e Radiologia da Escola de Odontologia e Instituto de Pesquisa, Bangalore, Índia.
    [Show full text]
  • Spina Bifida
    A Guide for School Personnel Working With Students With Spina Bifida Developed by The Specialized Health Needs Interagency Collaboration Patty Porter, M.S. Barbara Obst, R.N. Andrew Zabel, Ph.D. In partnership between Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services December 2009 A Guide for School Personnel Working With Students With Spina Bifida Developed by the Kennedy Krieger Institute in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services December 2009 This document was produced by the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services through IDEA Part B Grant #H027A0900035A, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Education or any other federal agency and should not be regarded as such. The Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services receives funding from the Office of Special Education Program, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education. This document is copyright free. Readers are encouraged to share; however, please credit the MSDE Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services and Kennedy Krieger Institute. The Maryland State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs. For inquiries related to Department policy, contact the Equity Assurance and Compliance Branch, Office of the Deputy State Superintendent for Administration, Maryland State Department of Education, 200 West Baltimore Street, 6th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201-2595, 410-767-0433, Fax 410-767-0431, TTY/TDD 410-333-6442.
    [Show full text]
  • Lumbar Spondylolysis in Adolescent Athletes Joseph P
    ■ BRIEF REPORT Lumbar Spondylolysis in Adolescent Athletes Joseph P. Garry, MD, and John McShane, MD Greenville, North Carolina Lumbar spondylolysis is a common cause of low back pain in adolescent athletes. The early diagnosis and treat­ ment of this condition will result in decreased morbidity and an earlier return to full activity for most patients. We report a case of lumbar spondylolysis in an adolescent athlete and review current diagnosis and management of this condition. KEY WORDS. Spondylolysis; adolescent; back pain; athlete. (J Fam Pract 1998; 46:145-149) he national explosion of competitive athletics onset of the low back pain was insidious, without a his­ has led to increasing participation of adoles­ tory of trauma. At presentation, the pain was described cents in organized team sports. Up to one half as a sharp, right-sided, lower lumbar and buttock pain of boys and one fourth of girls between the brought on during soccer practice while running and ages of 14 and 17 participate in some form of kicking, and was relieved with rest. No radicular symp­ organizedT team sport.1 The increase in the number of toms were described. The patient denied any previous adolescent athletes has resulted in more adolescent low back pain. Past medical history was unremarkable. complaints of low back pain.2 The lifetime prevalence of Physical examination revealed painful palpation of low back pain among 11- to 17-year-olds in the United the lower right lumbar spine with bilateral paraspinal States is reported to be 30.4%.3 Often, many young ath­ muscle spasm.
    [Show full text]
  • PE056 Spina Bifida
    Spina Bifida What is Spina Bifida is also called a neural tube defect. It happens when the neural Spina Bifida? tube, which includes the brain and spine of the embryo, does not close. This happens during the first month of pregnancy, often before the mother knows she is pregnant. There are many forms of neural tube defects. Spina Bifida Occulta In this form, there is an opening in one or more of the bones (vertebrae) (oh-cull-tuh) that make up the spine. These openings can be seen by X-ray only. The spinal cord, nerves and skin covering are normal. In fact, up to 10% of all Americans may have this most mild form of the spina bifida. In most cases Spina Bifida Occulta causes no problems. Spina Bifida Aperta In these forms, the neural tube does not close, and parts of the bones (ay-per-tuh) (vertebrae) that make up the spine are missing. A cyst or lump pokes out from the opening in the spine. There are 2 types of spina bifida aperta: Meningocele (muh-ninge-oh-seal) The cyst is covered with skin and most of the time there is minimal, if any, paralysis. Most children with meningocele grow normally. Your child with meningocele should be checked for fluid on the brain (hydrocephalus) and bowel and bladder problems so they can be treated promptly. Meningomyelocele (muh-ninge-oh-my-uh-low-seal) This is the most severe form of neural tube defect. The open defect contains nerve roots of the spinal cord and the cord itself.
    [Show full text]
  • Anencephalic Fetus with Craniospinal Rachischisis - Case Report
    IP Indian Journal of Anatomy and Surgery of Head, Neck and Brain 2019;5(4):124–126 Content available at: iponlinejournal.com IP Indian Journal of Anatomy and Surgery of Head, Neck and Brain Journal homepage: www.innovativepublication.com Case Report Anencephalic fetus with craniospinal rachischisis - Case report Sangeeta S Kotrannavar1, Vijaykumar S Kotrannavar2,* 1Dept. of Anatomy, USM- KLE International Medical Programme, Belgaum, India 2Shri JGCHS Ayurvedic Medical College, Ghataprabha, Karnataka, India ARTICLEINFO ABSTRACT Article history: Anencephaly is a severe neural tube defect (NTD) caused by failure of closure in the cranial neuropore Received 04-12-2019 during fourth week of pregnancy. As a result, major portion of the brain, skull and scalp is absent. Accepted 22-12-2019 Anencephaly may be associated with rachischisis, where defective neural tube closure is extensive and Available online 24-01-2020 spinal cord is exposed. Overall incidence of anencephaly is one in every 1000 births. It can be easily diagnosed by ultrasonography. Anencephaly newborns are not viable nor treatable and classified as lethal NTDs. Nutritional and environmental factors play a role in production of NTDs. Here we report and Keywords: discuss a rare case of anencephalic fetus with craniospinal rachischisis of 25 weeks of gestation and their Anencephaly embryological origin. Neural tube defect Rachischisis © 2019 Published by Innovative Publication. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 1. Introduction forms brain and caudal part develops into spinal cord. NTDs result from abnormal closure of neural folds in third and Anencephaly is a congenital severe lethal neural tube fourth week of development.
    [Show full text]
  • Spina Bifida
    Spina bifida Description Spina bifida is a condition in which the neural tube, a layer of cells that ultimately develops into the brain and spinal cord, fails to close completely during the first few weeks of embryonic development. As a result, when the spine forms, the bones of the spinal column do not close completely around the developing nerves of the spinal cord. Part of the spinal cord may stick out through an opening in the spine, leading to permanent nerve damage. Because spina bifida is caused by abnormalities of the neural tube, it is classified as a neural tube defect. Children born with spina bifida often have a fluid-filled sac on their back that is covered by skin, called a meningocele. If the sac contains part of the spinal cord and its protective covering, it is known as a myelomeningocele. The signs and symptoms of these abnormalities range from mild to severe, depending on where the opening in the spinal column is located and how much of the spinal cord is contained in the sac. Related problems can include a loss of feeling below the level of the opening, weakness or paralysis of the feet or legs, and problems with bladder and bowel control. Some affected individuals have additional complications, including a buildup of excess fluid around the brain (hydrocephalus) and learning problems. With surgery and other forms of treatment, many people with spina bifida live into adulthood. In a milder form of the condition, called spina bifida occulta, the bones of the spinal column are abnormally formed, but the nerves of the spinal cord usually develop normally.
    [Show full text]
  • Review Article Cleidocranial Dysplasia: Clinical and Molecular Genetics
    J Med Genet 1999;36:177–182 177 Review article Cleidocranial dysplasia: clinical and molecular genetics Stefan Mundlos Abstract Chinese named Arnold, was probably de- Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) (MIM scribed by Jackson.6 He was able to trace 356 119600) is an autosomal dominant skeletal members of this family of whom 70 were dysplasia characterised by abnormal aVected with the “Arnold Head”. CCD was clavicles, patent sutures and fontanelles, originally thought to involve only bones of supernumerary teeth, short stature, and a membranous origin. More recent and detailed variety of other skeletal changes. The dis- clinical investigations have shown that CCD is ease gene has been mapped to chromo- a generalised skeletal dysplasia aVecting not some 6p21 within a region containing only the clavicles and the skull but the entire CBFA1, a member of the runt family of skeleton. CCD was therefore considered to be transcription factors. Mutations in the a dysplasia rather than a dysostosis.7 Skeletal CBFA1 gene that presumably lead to syn- abnormalities commonly found include cla- thesis of an inactive gene product were vicular aplasia/hypoplasia, bell shaped thorax, identified in patients with CCD. The func- enlarged calvaria with frontal bossing and open tion of CBFA1 during skeletal develop- fontanelles, Wormian bones, brachydactyly ment was further elucidated by the with hypoplastic distal phalanges, hypoplasia of generation of mutated mice in which the the pelvis with widened symphysis pubis, Cbfa1 gene locus was targeted. Loss of one severe dental anomalies, and short stature. The Cbfa1 allele (+/-) leads to a phenotype very changes suggest that the gene responsible is not similar to human CCD, featuring hypo- only active during early development, as plasia of the clavicles and patent fonta- implied by changes in the shape or number of nelles.
    [Show full text]
  • Congenital Anomalies and in Utero Antiretroviral Exposure in Human Immunodeficiency Virus– Exposed Uninfected Infants
    Supplementary Online Content Williams PL, Crain MJ, Yildirim C, et al; Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study. Congenital anomalies and in utero antiretroviral exposure in human immunodeficiency virus– exposed uninfected infants. Published online November 10, 2014. JAMA Pediatr. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.1889. eTable 1. Frequency of Specific Major Congenital Anomalies Within Anomaly Categories eTable 2. Anomalies Reported Among Children Exposed to Atazanavir During the First Trimester eTable 3. Association of Timing of the First ARV Exposure During Pregnancy With Congenital Anomalies by ARV Drug Class and for Specific ARV Drugs This supplementary material has been provided by the authors to give readers additional information about their work. © 2014 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. Downloaded From: https://jamanetwork.com/ on 09/24/2021 eTable 1. Frequency of Specific Major Congenital Anomalies Within Anomaly Categories # of children with at Total # of least one major anomaly in Anomaly anomalies category Category (Total=242) (Total=201) List of Major Anomalies Musculoskeletal 72 59 Polydactyly (15), torticollis/muscular anomaly (12), clubfoot, talipes, other foot deformity (9), congenital dislocation of hip (5), craniosynostosis (4), plagiocephaly (4), pectus excavatum/funnel chest (3), lower limb anomaly (3), hypertelorism/other face or skull anomaly (3), spina bifida occulta/spine anomaly (3), syndactyly (3), inguinal hernia (2), diaphragmatic hernia/Morgagni, genu recurvatum/bowed legs, rib/sternum anomaly, scoliosis/congenital
    [Show full text]
  • Spina Bifida Early Management and Long-Term Care Graham Fieggen
    Spina bifida Early management and long-term care Graham Fieggen Paediatric Neurosurgery Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Professor and Head Division of Neurosurgery University of Cape Town Perspective • Spina bifida is the most common birth defect involving the Central Nervous System • Often preventable • Initial management has a profound effect on survival and the handicaps that they may suffer • Hope and support make this a manageable condition which culminates in a productive and meaningful life for many… Meningomyelocele is the most complex congenital abnormality compatible with a normal life (David McLone) Normal embryology: Closure of the neural tube Principles of Neural Science Kandel ER 2000 This process is complete within the first month post-conception; This has clear implications for the concept of prevention (see later) This is a real process- not just a hypothetical construct! Scanning Electron Micrograph of Chick Neural Tube Important points to remember about neural tube closure • Occurs by day 28 postconception…….. this is critical for understanding strategies for prevention! • This process is called primary neurulation and gives rise to virtually the entire CNS; the terminal part of the spinal cord arises through caudal regression or secondary neurulation • Abnormalities cause conditions that are termed neural tube defects (NTDs) or dysraphism and may occur at either end ….. Classification of Neural Tube Defects Cranial dysraphism open anencephaly closed encephalocele Spinal dysraphism (Spina bifida) open spina
    [Show full text]
  • The Effect of a Spina Bifida-Defect at the Lumbosacral Junction on Spinopelvic Alignments
    Research article East African Orthopaedic Journal THE EFFECT OF A SPINA BIFIDA-DEFECT AT THE LUMBOSACRAL JUNCTION ON SPINOPELVIC ALIGNMENTS J.M. Muthuuri, MBChB, MMed (Surg), H, Dip. Orth (SA), PhD, Consultant Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon, The Mombasa Hospital, P.O. Box 84074-80100, Mombasa, Kenya. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Background: Spina bifida defects, which are mild neurotube defects are commonly found at the lumbosacral junction. The defect which is associated with micronutrient deficiency (folate) is highly prevalent in impoverished populations; and because the defect occurs early in life, it has the potential to influence pelvic growth and in consequence the pelvic incidence. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence of a Spina Bifida Occulta (SBO) defect at lumbosacral junction (L5 or S1) has any effect on the pelvic incidence. Design: Prospective randomized case control study. Methods: This study enrolled 172 consecutive patients with low back pain patients requiring X-rays of the lumbosacral spine. The X-ray films were screened for spina bifida occulta defect at the lumbosacral junction (L5, S1). Group 1 consisted of those patients with spina bifida occulta defect (SBO-defect) while Group 2 consisted of those without the defect. Measurements of the spino-pelvic parameters were done manually on all the films, followed by calculation of pelvic incidence/lumbar lordosis mismatch (PI-LL+ 10), the primary outcome (or deformity). The means of the two groups were subjected to independent t-test and Pearson Correlation Moment for relationships. Results: A total of 172 patients were enrolled 88 had SBO-defect (Group 1) and 84 were without defect (Group 2).
    [Show full text]