Symptoms and Complications
Most people with spina bifida have some degree of paralysis, usually in the lower body, and may need wheelchairs or other aids to get around. The nature of the paralysis depends on the location and severity of the lesion in the spine. Some people with mild spina bifida occulta experience no physical problems at all. There may well be people with this condition who have never been diagnosed and will never suffer any ill effects.
Unfortunately, paralysis is common and often begins in the womb. This means that babies may already have suffered complications of long-term paralysis at the time of birth. This includes having a spine that's too curved at the base, which prevents an infant from lying normally on his or her back. Sometimes the bones of the spine (vertebrae) or other joints may become locked in position, typically in a bent position. Clubfoot and dislocated hips are other common malformations seen at birth.
The nerves that control the bowel and bladder are often damaged in spina bifida, leading to various problems such as severe constipation or incontinence and frequent infections. Over the years, this can put a massive strain on the kidneys, potentially leading to kidney failure and death.
Most people with spina bifida also have malformations high in the spinal cord or brain that lead to a dangerous buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles inside the brain. This is called hydrocephalus. A large percentage of people with spina bifida develop this condition at some point. In an infant, it can cause the skull to grow out of proportion to the body. This condition can be treated.
People with spina bifida are of normal intelligence, but for unknown reasons they are more likely than the general population to have learning disabilities such as dyslexia, difficulty paying attention, and problems with learning math.
Babies that are born with meningocele or myelomeningocele spina bifida are at risk of developing meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. For this reason, newborns with these types of spina bifida often undergo surgery to close their spinal lesion in the first few days after birth. Unfortunately, there's no way to repair the damaged nerve tissue, and attempts to intervene and prevent damage before birth have not been successful.