Etiology
- Maternal risk factors
- Folate deficiency during pregnancy due to:
- Insufficient folate supplementation
- Drugs that interfere with folate metabolism
- Pregestational diabetes mellitus
Closed spinal dysraphism
Spina bifida occulta
- Description
- Most common closed NTD
- Cause: failure of vertebral arch fusion
- Vertebral bone defect without herniation
- The spinal cord, meninges, and overlying skin remain intact.
- Clinical features
- Most commonly affects the lower lumbar or sacral region
- Often asymptomatic (may be an incidental finding in imaging)
- Possible symptoms at the level of the vertebral defect:
- Lumbar skin dimple
- Collection of fat
- Patch of hair
- Diagnostics