Diagnosis of Spina bifida

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Spina bifida, especially if severe, can be diagnosed before birth by ultrasound exam. An amniocentesis test is used to detect a substance called alphafetoprotein in the womb fluid. There is a marked rise in the levels of alphafetoprotein when the foetus has spina bifida.

In severe cases, detected early in pregnancy, the option of terminating the pregnancy (abortion) may be considered.

Spina bifida occult may start in childhood, adolescence or adult life as bladder problems such as incontinence and urinary infections. There may be some signs of problems with the neural tube in the centre of the lower back.

These include:

a tuft of hair overlying the defect,
a fatty growth under the skin in the area, and
a narrow channel running inwards from the surface (known as a sinus).

Further tests using a type of X-ray called a myelography, or CT or MRI scanning, will reveal the defect.