Myelomeningocele Flashcards
Clinical manifestations of myelomeningocele
- Loss of sensory and motor function
- Orthopedic abnormalities
- Hydrocephalus
- Brain and SC abnormalities
- Cognitive impairment and learning issues
- Integumentary Impairment
- B&B dysfunction
- Disturbed growth and development
- Psychosocial issues
nervous system developement/background
- The nervous system develops from a portion of the ectoderm called the neural plate
- Neural plate 🡪 neural tube 🡪 brain and spinal cord
- Closure begins in the cervical region and proceeds cranially and caudally
- Closure is completed by the 26th day
etiology/causes of spina bifida
- A defect in the neural tube closure and overlying vertebral arches results in spina bifida
- Causes
- No definitive cause
- Genetic predisposition
- Genetic risk factors
- Celtic origin
- Previous spinal bifida births
- Genetic risk factors
- Environmental risk factors
- Lower socioeconomic status
- Deficiencies in folic acid and Vitamin A
- Environmental risk factors
incidence and prenatal testing for spina bifida
- Incidence: 2/1000
- Prenatal testing
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) at abnormally high level in amniotic fluid past 14 weeks gestational age, compared with US results
types of spina bifida
- Occulta
- Cystica
- Meningocele / myelocele
- Lipomeningocele
- Myelomeningocele
- Anencephaly
- Meningocele / myelocele
definition and characteristics of spina bifida occulta
- Definition: failure of the vertebral arches to meet and fuse in 3rd month
- Commonly occurs at the lumbosacral area
- Characteristics
- Overlying skin may be marked by dimple, pigmentation, or patch of hair
- Usually associated with no neurological or musculoskeletal dysfunction
- Higher than normal incidence of urinary tract infections
spina bifida cystica definition
Definition: failure of the neural tube and vertebral arches to close with cystic protrusion of the meninges with or without the spinal cord
subtypes of spina bifida cystica
- Meningocele/myelocele: spinal cord remains in the vertebral canal but it may be abnormal
-
Lipomeningocele: superficial fatty mass in the low lumbar or sacral area
- high incidence of B&B dysfunction due to tethered cord
-
Myelomeningocele: extensive spinal cord abnormalities
- Most common in thoracic and lumbosacral regions
- Anencephaly: cranial end of neural tube does not fuse
clinical manifestations of Myelomeningocele
- Loss of sensory and motor function
- Orthopedic abnormalities
- Hydrocephalus
- Brain and SC abnormalities
- Cognitive impairment and learning issues
- Integumentary Impairment
- B&B dysfunction
- Disturbed growth and development
- Psychosocial issues
Loss of Sensory and Motor Function in Myelomeningocele depends on
- Degree of spinal cord abnormality
- Traction or stretch on the spinal cord
- Trauma to exposed neural tissue during delivery
- Postnatal damage resulting from drying or infection of the neural plate
T/F: Loss of sensation below the level of the lesion is impaired but may not exactly match the level of the lesion and will results in deficits in kinesthetic, proprioceptive, and somatosensory problems.
True
types of motor dysfunction with Myelomeningocele
- Complete loss of function below the level of the lesion 🡪 flaccid paralysis, loss of sensation, absent reflexes
- Below the level of the lesion if the spinal cord is intact: mixture of flaccidity and spasticity
- Flaccidity immediately below the lesion to the severed cord
orthopedic problems with myelomeningocele causes and types
- Deformity/contractures
- Causes:
- Muscle imbalance
- Effect of stress
- Posture
- Gravity
- Congenital malformations
- Decreased sensation
- Neurological complications
- Causes:
- Types of congenital malformations
- Hemivertebrae
- Deformed vertebral bodies/ribs
- Missing ribs
- Lumbar kyphosis
- Club feet
- Rocker bottom feet
hydrocephalus incidence, cause, and signs and symptoms with myelomeningocele
- Incidence: 80-90%
- Cause: blockage of flow of CSF; typically develops following closure of sack
-
S&S
- Increased head size
- Bulging fontanelles
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Sunset eyes
hydrocephalus intervention and what to watch for
- Intervention: VA/VP shunt or shunt revision
- Watch for S&S of shunt malfunction in a child with a shunt (see next slide)