Will Newborns With Neural Tube Defects Survive?

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Neural Tube Defects are very serious birth defects that occur rarely in newborn babies. General symptoms of neural tube defects can range from a mild form of nerve damage to more severe versions. The cause of these tube defects are thought to be incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord and their protective coverings. During early stage pregnancy, if a fetus’s spine fails to close properly, this can lead to neural tube defects and complications later in life.

The most common type of Neural Tube Defect is called Spina Bifida. There are estimates of roughly seventy thousand people in the United States suffering from this condition. While the condition is the most common of all neural tube defects, it is also the type that has the best prognosis. Most babies born with this type of tube defect grows into adulthood completely healthy and without suffering from complications.

The forms of Spina Bifida can range from mild to severe. Occulta is the mildest form. Sufferers have a small gap in-between one or more of the vertebrae in the spine. While there is generally no nerve damage or symptoms, sufferers should keep a close eye on their condition to make sure it does not progress.

Meningocele is the rarest form of Spina Bifida. In this version, the protective membrane of the spinal cord protrudes out of the spine itself. Treatment is usually surgery, and most patients treated for this type of neural tube defect can develop normally and live well into their adulthoods.

Myelomeningocele is the most severe form of Spina Bifida. In this version, the spinal cord and meninges both protrude through the spinal opening. Myelomeningocele requires surgery to be performed within twenty four hours after birth to prevent further damage.
Anencephaly is the rarest of neural tube defects, and unfortunately it is fatal. Encephaloceles, which is another form of the disease, causes brain tissue to protrude through the skull. While not as severe as Anencephaly, the prognosis is limited at best.

There are many factors that cause Neural Tube Defects in newborns. Please consult your doctor to see if your child is at risk.

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