Not all people born with spina bifida have the same needs, so treatment will be different for each person. Some people have problems that are more serious than others. People with myelomeningocele and meningocele will need more treatments than people with spina bifida occulta.

Health Issues

No two people with spina bifida are exactly alike. Health issues and treatments for people with spina bifida will be different for each person. Some people have issues that are more severe than other people. Those born with “open” spina bifida usually have more health issues and need more types of treatments.

Some health issues and treatments related to spina bifida include the following:

Open Spina Bifida

When a baby is born with open spina bifida, in which the spinal cord is exposed (myelomeningocele), doctors will perform surgery to close it before birth or within the first few days of the baby’s life.

A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health (The Management of Myelomeningocele Study) and published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that performing surgery to close the opening on the back of the fetus before birth greatly reduces the need to divert, or shunt, fluid away from the brain.

The surgery also increases the chances that a child will be able to walk without crutches or other devices. However, infants who had this prenatal surgery were more likely to be born preterm than were the infants who had the surgery after birth, when it is typically performed.

Hydrocephalus

Many babies born with spina bifida get hydrocephalus (often called water on the brain). This means that there is extra fluid in and around the brain. The extra fluid can cause the spaces in the brain, called ventricles, to become too large and the head can swell. Hydrocephalus needs to be followed closely and treated properly to prevent brain injury.

If a baby with spina bifida has hydrocephalus, a surgeon can put in a shunt. A shunt is a small hollow tube that will help drain the fluid from the baby’s brain and protect it from too much pressure. Additional surgery might be needed to change the shunt as the child grows up or if it becomes clogged or infected.

Tethered Spinal Cord

Many people with open spina bifida have tethered spinal cords. Normally, the bottom of the spinal cord floats around freely in the spinal canal. A tethered spinal cord is attached to the spinal canal. When this happens, the spinal cord stretches as a person grows, which can permanently damage the spinal nerves. The person might have back pain, scoliosis (crooked spine), leg and foot weakness, changes in bladder or bowel control, and other problems. A tethered spinal cord can be treated with surgery.

For more information, visit the Spina Bifida Association website:

Tethered Spinal Cord