Herniated spinal cord in children and adults: causes, diagnosis and treatment

Spinal hernia is a fairly severe pathology, which is a congenital anomaly, as a result of which the vertebrae do not close, but form a gap. Because of this, parts of the spinal cord and its membrane come out under the skin. Most often this pathology is formed in the lower part of the spinal column, but can also occur in other places. This is a very serious disease, the severity of which depends on how much the nervous tissues are deprived of protection.

How serious is this disease?

Today Cerebrospinal hernia Is diagnosed in the prenatal period, which allows taking preventive measures even before the birth of the child. Almost always splitting of the spine is an indication in order to interrupt pregnancy, as spinal hernia in newborns is considered a very serious developmental malformation. But if a woman still made a decision to give birth, then after childbirth the child is prescribed radical treatment to prevent the development of severe disability.

Spinal hernia in adults is also accompanied by severe disability, because it does not allow the movement of lower limbs and leads to incontinence of urine and feces. A person without help simply can not exist.

Why can a hernia occur?

The causes of splitting of the spine have not yet been fully elucidated. The fetus during intrauterine development can be influenced by various factors: chemical, biological, physical. Most scientists have come to a common opinion that the emergence of spinal hernia, perhaps, leads to a lack of vitamins in the body of the mother, in particular, folic acid.

Although splitting of the spine is an innate pathology, but by its nature it is not considered genetic. However, if a child was already conceived with such an anomaly, then in the subsequent pregnancy the risk of its occurrence is great.

To prevent conception of the next child with a split spine before pregnancy, a woman must undergo preliminary training, using a complex of all necessary vitamins and minerals.

In an adult human spinal cord hernia occurs due to a fall from the height, the lifting of weights, as a result of a collision or impact.

Types of spinal hernia

Such pathology is of the following types:

• Hidden, which is characterized by mild form and a violation of the structure of only one vertebra. Most people who have a similar kind of hernia, no symptoms, only in the area of the affected area of the spine there is a slight depression.
• Hernia, which causes a serious defect in the bones. Pathology has an external manifestation, expressed in a hernial protrusion with the spinal cord in it, along with the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid. Most often nerve roots and trunks are not damaged and continue to function normally. In more severe cases, a spinal cord entrapment may occur in the hernial sac along with the membranes, trunks, and nerve roots. In this case, the pathology is accompanied by severe disturbances in motor activity and sensitivity.

Symptoms of pathology in newborns

Congenital spinal hernia manifests itself as follows:

• Paralysis of the legs;
• Impaired intestinal motility;
• Loss of sensitivity below the place of hernia formation;
• Dysfunction of the bladder, kidneys and rectum.

Another sign that spinal hernia is characterized in children is the very large size of the skull caused by the dropsy of the brain (hydrocephalus), that is , there is a buildup of fluid inside the brain's ventricles . It contributes to this violation of the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, which is caused by cerebrospinal hernia.

Hydrocephalus often leads to convulsions, delayed development, epilepsy, neurotic disorders, severe headaches, strabismus, poor eyesight, upward slanting of the pupils, limb weaknesses. With a very strong pressure of the liquid on the brain, death occurs.

Symptoms of the disease in adults

Herniated spinal cord in an adult is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Numbness of the skin on the foot, thigh or lower leg, feeling of numbness or tingling.
• Painful sensations when bending.
• Difficulty controlling the work of the muscles of the foot, thigh, shin.
• Severe pain that occurs in the lumbar spine, giving to the legs, abdomen, groin area.
• Intensified sweating.

How is the pathology diagnosed?

Diagnosis of a hernia begins with the collection of a medical history: the age in which there is weakness in the lower limbs and the thinning of the leg muscles appeared, as well as when it became very difficult to move.

The patient must necessarily consult a neurologist who assesses the strength of the motor activity of the lower extremities, checks how much the muscle tone in the legs is greatly reduced, and also spends the examination of the spinal column to reveal the external hernial protrusion.

Diagnosis of hernia includes:

• Transillumination, by which the contents of the hernial sac are evaluated.
• Contrast myelography. In this case, assess how badly damaged the spinal cord, introducing for this intravenously a contrast substance, which begins to accumulate in the area of the hernia;
• Computer and magnetic resonance imaging, used in the area of the spine to layer-by-layer to study the spinal cord. The obtained data allow to reveal the pathological area in the structure of the vertebral canals and the place where the hernia and its contents are located.

It is also necessary to consult a surgeon and genetics.

Identification of the anomaly in the fetus during intrauterine development is carried out as follows:

• With the help of a planned ultrasound during pregnancy;
• Delivery of blood tests for the maintenance of alpha-fetoprotein by a woman during the period of gestation;
• Study of amniotic fluid by puncturing the membranes.

The decision on whether to interrupt pregnancy or not, makes a consultation of doctors, based on the severity of the pathology and the desire of the woman herself.

Conservative treatment of vertebral anomalies

Herniated spinal cord is a very serious ailment, therefore, categorically prohibited any traditional methods of treatment, visiting saunas and baths, drinking alcoholic tinctures, hot compresses, and hot baths with medicinal herbs. All this can greatly worsen the patient's condition.

Treatment of spinal hernia is done only in a radical way - removing pathology. A conservative method of treatment is necessary in order to prevent the progression of the anomaly. To do this, use neurotrophic and nootropics, which normalize the work of nervous tissue. It is necessary to take vitamins A, B, C, E, contributing to the improvement of metabolic processes in the areas of the spinal cord affected by the disease.

Also recommended are physiotherapeutic procedures (laser, magnet) that help restore motor activity. With the help of physiotherapy in the affected areas, neuromuscular bonds are restored. Thanks to dietary nutrition, the work of the intestine is normalized. Be sure to include in the diet more coarse fiber (porridge, vegetables).

Surgical removal of cerebrospinal hernia

Many patients are afraid of carrying out the operation, but in most cases this particular method of treatment helps to get rid of the hernia until the nerve centers are affected. Surgical intervention is absolutely necessary if unbearable pains occur, fecal and urinary incontinence occurs, a person begins to move with difficulty, and only pain relievers save him.

The operation (spinal hernia surgical removal) consists in the reconstruction of the defect of the spine, the closing of the hole of the bone tissue. If the hernial sac has nonviable tissues, they are removed, and healthy structures of the spinal cord are placed in the spinal canal. In most cases, the disease accompanies hydrocephalus, which after some time contributes to irreversible changes in the brain. To prevent the detrimental effect of strong intracranial pressure, a shunt is formed, which is necessary to divert the liquor into the lymphatic duct.

Prevention of recurrence of the disease

To my great regret, there is a high probability that the spinal cord is formed again, in the same place or in some other way. Therefore, when performing therapeutic gymnastics, it is necessary to listen to your sensations arising during the extension of the spine. Pain during the exercises should in no case be strengthened, but, conversely, reduced.

Newborns and adults are selected a course of drugs that better nourish the tissues of the spinal cord. Children need to visit the neurologist regularly for preventive examination. If the muscular corset starts to weaken, and also the wrong posture arises, then after a while it can lead to the fact that the load on the spine will not be distributed correctly, provoking the formation of a hernia. Therefore, it is very important to treat the treatment with all responsibility and contact the doctor as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Herniated spinal cord is a severe malformation of fetal development, often causing persistent disability and the occurrence of complications that are incompatible with life. It is treated only surgically, but even this method does not give any guarantee that the hernia does not form again. Therefore, before planning a pregnancy, a woman should consult a doctor for all necessary examinations and follow-up recommendations.