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Suggest Precautions To Be Taken After Treatment For Congenital Defect In Childhood
Question: My daughter was borne with congenital defects of internal hydrocehalus and spina bifida on 19/05/1990.
She was operated uponb for correction of her spina bifida two days after her birth and thereafter fitted with a VP Shunt at the age of 9 months for taking care of her internal hydrocephalus.
She has been doing well since then. She has completed her B. Tech. and is going to be married soon.
Will she be in a position to lead a normal married life? What precautions are required to be taken?
I will be grateful for your kind opinion and suitable advice.
She was operated uponb for correction of her spina bifida two days after her birth and thereafter fitted with a VP Shunt at the age of 9 months for taking care of her internal hydrocephalus.
She has been doing well since then. She has completed her B. Tech. and is going to be married soon.
Will she be in a position to lead a normal married life? What precautions are required to be taken?
I will be grateful for your kind opinion and suitable advice.
Brief Answer:
Please be assured
Detailed Answer:
The fact that her development has been fine till date tells us that her surgery was well performed and as you describe she regained her function fully.
The only precaution that she should take is that as her spine is post op she should avoid extended traveling daily, avoid any strain to her spine and avoid sudden severe jerks to her spine and vertebral column.
She is unlikely to deteriorate further if she takes care of all these factors and keeps doing back strengthening exercises and calcium supplementation or calcium rich diet.
And I would say that stands true for all of us. Only she needs to do all this even more as she is a post op spine case.
Please be assured
Detailed Answer:
The fact that her development has been fine till date tells us that her surgery was well performed and as you describe she regained her function fully.
The only precaution that she should take is that as her spine is post op she should avoid extended traveling daily, avoid any strain to her spine and avoid sudden severe jerks to her spine and vertebral column.
She is unlikely to deteriorate further if she takes care of all these factors and keeps doing back strengthening exercises and calcium supplementation or calcium rich diet.
And I would say that stands true for all of us. Only she needs to do all this even more as she is a post op spine case.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
1) What are the chances of her bearing and delivering a child in a normal way? Will she have any difficulty in the same?
2) What are the implications of removal of VP Shunt from her head and is it advisable? If yes, what are the risks involved/envisaged?
Regards.
2) What are the implications of removal of VP Shunt from her head and is it advisable? If yes, what are the risks involved/envisaged?
Regards.
Brief Answer:
Well actually it depends
Detailed Answer:
First My apologies for the delay in the answer. I was out of town and so did not know about your query.
Even though the repair in your child was done at a very early stage but the questions about the child bearing is very complicated and a delicate one.
The nerves at the end of the spinal cord supplies the bowel/ bladder and genitalia and plays an important role in our sexual function though they do not innervate the ovaries and the uterus. So if her menstruation is ok she might be able to conceive provided her cycles are ovulatory. But as far as child birth is concerned that might be a complicated issue.
Child birth involves the normal function of spine and genitalia so both normal birth and caesarian section which is done usually in spinal anesthesia might be problematic but not impossible. Even if spinal anesthesia is contra indicated general anesthesia may be given for delivery.
And as far as removal of the VP shunt is concerned that depends what is the status of csf drainage at this point.
For that you would have to consult a neurosurgeon and may be do an MRI Brain if he/she suggests.
Well actually it depends
Detailed Answer:
First My apologies for the delay in the answer. I was out of town and so did not know about your query.
Even though the repair in your child was done at a very early stage but the questions about the child bearing is very complicated and a delicate one.
The nerves at the end of the spinal cord supplies the bowel/ bladder and genitalia and plays an important role in our sexual function though they do not innervate the ovaries and the uterus. So if her menstruation is ok she might be able to conceive provided her cycles are ovulatory. But as far as child birth is concerned that might be a complicated issue.
Child birth involves the normal function of spine and genitalia so both normal birth and caesarian section which is done usually in spinal anesthesia might be problematic but not impossible. Even if spinal anesthesia is contra indicated general anesthesia may be given for delivery.
And as far as removal of the VP shunt is concerned that depends what is the status of csf drainage at this point.
For that you would have to consult a neurosurgeon and may be do an MRI Brain if he/she suggests.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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