14-year-old Angelina was born with spina bifida, a birth defect of the spine which limits the use of her legs. Despite her disability, she doesn't let it define her. "It feels normal to me", she says.

Understanding the Context

Spina bifida is typically diagnosed during pregnancy or immediately after birth. But a mild form of spina bifida, which rarely causes symptoms, can go unnoticed until adulthood. Spina bifida is a ... Spina bifida is a developmental malformation of the spinal cord that leads to complications in several organ systems and considerable disability, even decades after repair of the anomaly.

Key Insights

Before the ... University of Utah Health: How Prenatal Surgery Is Changing the Future for Babies with Spina Bifida What if a baby’s spine could be repaired before birth? New advances in prenatal surgery are changing what’s possible for children with spina bifida. How Prenatal Surgery Is Changing the Future for Babies with Spina Bifida Medical News Today: Is spinal muscular atrophy the same as spina bifida? Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and spina bifida are distinct conditions that affect the nerves that allow for voluntary motor control.

Final Thoughts

Share on Pinterest press coverage photography/Getty Images SMA is ... News Medical: Study reports life expectancies of spina bifida patients by age, sex, and severity of impairment Studies have reported on survival probabilities of people born with open spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord and nerves are exposed through an opening in the back. Research published in ... Study reports life expectancies of spina bifida patients by age, sex, and severity of impairment University of Utah Health has the only multidisciplinary clinic in the state for adults living with spina bifida. It is located at the Clinical Neurosciences Center as part of our neurosurgery clinic.