What is Spina?
Spina Bifida (from the Latin “bifid spine”) or also called retromedullary external hydrospinal cord refers to a dorsal (posterior) opening of the vertebrae associated with more or less pronounced damage to the spinal cord.
A pocket may form at the skin level, containing the meninges alone (meningocele) or associated with the spinal cord ( myelomeningocele ). It is most often located in the lumbar or sacral part of the spine, on 2 to 3 vertebrae, sometimes more.
The consequences of this vertebro-medullary development disorder are paraplegia ( paralysis of the lower limbs), hydrocephalus and Chiari malformation (consequence of the tethered cord during intrauterine life), urinary and anorectal incontinence. These disorders vary greatly in intensity depending on the level of the lesion and its extent.
In France, the incidence is 1/1000 births. Thanks to prophylaxis with folic acid and prenatal diagnosis, there has been a decrease in the incidence.