Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
08:38
Three-dimensional Navigation-guided, Prone, Single-position, Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Technique
Published on: July 15, 2021
Open spina bifida: birth findings predict long-term outcome
Pippa Oakeshott1, Gillian M Hunt, Alison Poulton
1Population Health Sciences and Education, St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London UK. p.oakeshott@sgul.ac.uk
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|November 29, 2011
Summary
Neurological deficit in infancy predicts adult mobility and care needs in spina bifida survivors. Early sensory level is a key factor for long-term outcomes in individuals with spina bifida.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Spina bifida is a complex congenital condition affecting neurological development.
- Long-term outcomes and lifestyle in adults with spina bifida are influenced by early-life factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if early-life neurological deficits and cerebrospinal fluid shunt history correlate with adult lifestyle in spina bifida patients.
- To investigate predictors of mobility and care requirements at age 40 in spina bifida survivors.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 117 consecutive cases of open spina bifida.
- Postal questionnaires and telephone interviews were used to survey 46 survivors and/or carers in 2007.
Main Results:
- Infants with sensory deficits below the knee (below L3) had higher survival rates (61%), with 61% being community walkers and 22% needing daily care.
- Infants with sensory deficits up to the umbilicus (above T11) had lower survival (17%), with none walking and 71% requiring daily care.
- Spina bifida survivors with fewer shunt revisions demonstrated better mobility, independence, and driving ability.
Conclusions:
- Early neurological deficit in spina bifida is a significant predictor of adult mobility and the need for ongoing care.
- The extent of sensory loss at birth can forecast functional outcomes and independence in adulthood.
- Cerebrospinal fluid shunt history is also linked to long-term functional status in spina bifida.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Neurulation
Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
01:14Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology
Spinal cord injury progresses through two interconnected phases: primary injury and secondary injury.Primary InjuryPrimary injury happens at the moment of trauma and involves immediate mechanical damage to the spinal cord.Compression happens when broken vertebrae, herniated discs, or accumulating blood (such as a hematoma) press directly against the spinal cord, distorting its normal shape and function. In cases of contusion, the cord is bruised by a blunt force (like penetrating injuries or...