Spina Bifida 

Spina bifida occulta is common, but very few people with spina bifida occulta will ever have any problems because of it. If a person has no symptoms from spina bifida occulta as a child, then it is unlikely that they will have any as an adult. Most people will not even be aware they have spina bifida occulta unless it shows up on an x-ray, for which they have for some unrelated reason. For the majority of people with spina bifida occulta, it is a minor fault involving one vertebra in the lower back.

Often people only become aware they have spina bifida occulta after having a back x-ray for an unrelated problem. However, for a few (about 1 in 1,000) there can be associated problems. For people with spina bifida occulta, there may be associated difficulties which may include: leg length inequality, gait abnormalities, foot deformity, back pain, weakness and reduced sensation of the legs, change in hand function, bladder infections and incontinence and bowel problems. These problems arise because the spinal cord becomes tethered to the backbone. Often a child who is previously symptomless may experience difficulties during the rapid growth of adolescence. This is due to the nerves of the spinal cord being overstretched and therefore, the symptoms may become progressively worse.

There is no specific treatment for occult spina bifida if the abnormality is limited to the bone. Usually, these deformities are found at the last lumbar vertebrae (L5) or at the first sacral vertebrae (S1). However, deformities of the spine can lead to degenerative changes later in life that may require intervention.