Myelomeningocele

Injury	Diseases	Nutrition	Poison
Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Spina bifida

Spina bifida (degrees of severity)

(Page 2)

Many patients with myelomeningocele primarily use a wheelchair.

Complications

Difficult delivery with problems resulting from a traumatic birth, including cerebral palsy and decreased oxygen to the brain
Frequent urinary tract infections
Hydrocephalus
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Meningitis
Permanent weakness or paralysis of legs

This list may not be all inclusive.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if:

A sac sticks out of the spine of a newborn infant.
The child is late in walking or crawling
Symptoms of hydrocephalus develop, including bulging soft spot, irritability, extreme sleepiness, and feeding difficulties
Symptoms of menigitis develop, including fever, stiff neck, irritability, and a high-pitched cry

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Review Date: 03/15/2011
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine (11/2/2009).

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).