The exact cause of spina bifida is unknown, but scientists suspect a few risk factors. Women having the family history of spina bifida, folate …show more content…
She was diagnosed with the most severe type of spina bifida called myelomeningocele. This is a deformation of the vertebral column and spinal cord whereby a hole is present and from which all the neural elements are protruding out. This creates a visible sac of meninges on the patient 's back. In Jessica’s case, surgery was done two days after her birth, to close the spinal opening. This surgery can be done in utero, but in this case, it presented too much of a risk to the fetus. The malformation is at the level of T11 and Jessica has partial paralysis below this level with no voluntary control of her lower limbs, as well as bladder and bowel dysfunction. Fortunately, she does not seem to have any complications that could accompany this disease, such as hydrocephalus or Chiari