Spina bifidaocculta is also known as hidden spina bifida.
The term “spina bifida occulta” translates to “hidden split spine.”
It prevents one or more bones of your spine from closing fully.
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The defect can occur at any point along the spine.
Spina bifida occulta is the mildest and most common form of spina bifida.
This article describes spina bifida occulta symptoms, causes, treatment, and outlook for those with it.
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What Is Spina Bifida Occulta?
Spina bifida occultalike all types of spina bifidais a pop in of neural tube defect.
A neural tube defect is a birth defect of the brain, spine, or spinal cord.
A baby’s neural tube forms early inpregnancyand closes during the first month afterconception.
In spina bifida, a gap forms between your spine’s vertebrae (small bones).
How Common Is Spina Bifida Occulta?
Approximately 12.4% of people have spina bifida occulta.
Because the condition does not interfere with spinal function, most people do not know they have it.
This jot down of spina bifida is typically asymptomatic because the spinal cord and nerves are usually normal.
This leaves the unprotected spinal cord vulnerable to injury and infection.
It can also affect spinal cord function, severely limiting a person’s mobility.
There are two types of open spina bifida.
The condition is typically so mild that it does not interfere with normal spinal function.
Without treatment, tethered cord syndrome can cause progressive neurological damage to your spinal cord.
Who Does Spina Bifida Occulta Affect?
It isn’t clear why some babies are born with spina bifida occulta.
Anyone can have the condition.
Certain genetic factors seem to increase the risk of a child having other types of neural tube defects.
Spina bifida affects about 1,427 babies annually, occurring in about 1 in every 2,758 births.
The highest rate of spina bifida births occurs among Hispanic women.
Since spina bifida occulta generally does not cause symptoms, most people with this condition are unaware of it.
It is more commonly diagnosed as an incidental finding during an X-ray taken for an unrelated reason.
As a result, many people aren’t diagnosed with spina bifida occulta until late childhood or even adulthood.
When symptoms exist, they vary by individual.
Being diagnosed with spina bifida occulta does not automatically qualify you for disability.
The determination of disability is based on medical and other information about whether or not you meet established criteria.
Outlook for Spina Bifida Occulta
Spina bifida affects everyone differently.
Treatment or lifestyle modifications may never be necessary.
Most people with spina bifida occulta have healthy nerves and spines.
While treatments can help relieve symptoms when they occur, there is no cure for spina bifida occulta.
Summary
Spina bifidaocculta is a neural tube birth defect.
Its name means closed split spine.
It is described as a closed form of spina bifida.
In spina bifida occulta, the gap is hidden or closed because it is wrapped in skin.
While there is no cure for spina bifida occulta, the problem rarely causes symptoms.
Many people have this problem at birth and live a full life, never knowing a health issue exists.
This problem is often found by chance during an X-ray of the back for other reasons.
When symptoms occur, treatment can ease their effects.
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