Spina bifida is part of a group of birth defects that are known as neural tube defects. The neural tube is a structure that develops during pregnancy, eventually developing into the brain, spinal cord and the tissues that surround them. Other neural tube defects include anencephaly and hydranencephaly.

Spina bifida occurs when the neural tube fails to properly close during the first month of pregnancy, causing problems in the spinal cord or backbones. Spina bifida can occur in three forms that differ in the severity of symptoms:

• Myelomeningocele: The most serious and most common type of spinal bifida, myelomeningocele occurs when the spinal cord and the membranes surrounding it protrude from an opening in the spine. Because the spinal tissue and nerves are exposed, children born with this type of spinal bifida are at an increased risk of serious infection.
• Meningocele: In patients born with meningocele, the rarest type of spina bifida, the protective membrane that surrounds the spinal cord pushes out through an opening in the spine, but the spinal cord remains in place. Meningocele is a milder form of spina bifida than myelomeningocele.
• Spina bifida occulta: This is the mildest form of spina bifida. Although children with spina bifida occulta are born with a small gap in the bones of their spine, the spinal cord remains in place. Many individuals born with spina bifida occulta do not realize their condition until it is inadvertently discovered during an X-ray or other tests.

Although experts are uncertain exactly why spina bifida occurs, children with a family history of neural tube defects, folate deficiency or whose mothers took antiseizure medications such as Depakote while pregnant may be at an increased risk of suffering from spina bifida or other neural tube defects.

Children who are born with spina bifida may experience a number of potential side effects from their condition, including muscle weakness, paralysis, poor bladder or bowel control, seizures or orthopedic problems. Although spina bifida can be corrected with surgery, neurological problems resulting from the severest forms of the disease may be permanent.

Studies have found that women who use the epilepsy drug Depakote during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to a child with neural tube defects including spina bifida. According to a warning by the Food and Drug Administration, women who used Depakote while pregnant are four times more likely to give birth to a child with neural tube defects than users of other epilepsy drugs. Despite this, the FDA has not announced any current plans to recall Depakote.

If you or a loved one used Depakote during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with spina bifida, anencephaly or other birth defects, you may qualify to file a lawsuit. For a free legal evaluation, contact the lawyers at Hissey Kientz, LLP by calling toll-free at 1-866-275-4454, or by filling out the free case evaluation form located on this page.