Q05.8: Sacral spina bifida without hydrocephalus

When the spine is not properly closed it is also known as open back or spina bifida. This deformity is congenital.

Your spine is not properly closed in the sacrum and coccyx area.

The spine consists of several sections. The cervical spine begins below the head. The cervical spine is very mobile. Below that is the thoracic spine. The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine. Below the thoracic spine is the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine is also very mobile and it bears a large part of the body’s weight. After the lumbar spine, the sacrum and coccyx join.

The vertebrae form the vertebral canal on the rear of the spinal column. The spinal cord runs in the vertebral canal. Nerve fibers run from the brain into the body via the spinal cord and form nerves there. Every nerve is responsible for a particular part of the skin and for certain muscles. These nerves are important for instance in enabling you to feel and move the muscles. The spinal cord is surrounded by protective membranes in the vertebral canal. The vertebral canal forms while a child develops in the womb. For various reasons the vertebral canal may not form properly and may remain open in certain places. The protective membranes, too, may not form properly, and also remain open in certain places.

The spinal cord can be damaged due to the open back. If the spinal cord is damaged, certain muscles may be partly or completely paralyzed. Moreover, you may not have full feeling in certain parts of your body. You may also have difficulty urinating or with bowel movements. If it is only the spine that is not properly closed, and the protective membranes surround the spinal cord as normal, you may not have any discomfort. The skin over the affected part of the spine may not be completely closed or may be thinner than normal. The spinal cord’s protective membranes may then swell outward like a blister. If the skin over the affected place is closed, it may look darker than normal.