Children with spina bifida develop a wide variety of congenital and acquired hip joint deformities. Among these are contractures, subluxation or dislocation. This paper will review both the overall orthopedic care of a spina bifida patient with hip problems and provide a focused review of surgery management of hip deformities. Special emphasis is placed on the indications and contraindications ...

The costs and economic benefits are examined of introducing a programme for the mass-screening of pregnancies for the detection and abortion of fetuses with spina bifida cystica. A benefit-cost index is derived, and the possible effects on it of making different input assumptions are discussed. It is considered that, on economic grounds, screening may be worthwhile only in populations in which ...

This article outlines and summarizes the rationale and the working process that was undertaken by the National Spina Bifida Program to address the issues of transitioning throughout the life course for persons growing up with spina bifida. Their challenges include achieving independent living, vocational independence, community mobility, and participation in social activities, and health manage...

The Chinese species of Dohrniphora are revised, with 27 recognised species from both Oriental and Palaearctic China. The following 14 species are described as new to science: D. rectangularis sp. nov., D. capillais sp. nov., D. proxima sp. nov., D. longisetalis sp. nov., D. infrequens sp. nov., D. dentiretusa sp. nov., D. aspinula sp. nov., D. separata sp. nov., D. microtrichina sp. nov., D. di...

Sprayed extensively by the US military in Vietnam, Agent Orange contained a dioxin contaminant later found to be toxic to humans [7]. Despite reports by Vietnamese citizens and Vietnam War veterans of increased rates of stillbirths and birth defects [8] in their children, studies in the 1980s showed conflicting evidence for an association between the two. In 1996, the US National Academy of Sci...

Data obtained from routine sources showed that from 1971 to 1982 the birth prevalences of spina bifida and anencephaly in Scotland fell. When known terminations after routine alpha fetoprotein screening were added to total births the adjusted birth prevalence could be calculated. In 1974-82 this fell by 40% for spina bifida (3 X 0-1 X 8) and 36% for anencephaly (2 X 2-1 X 4). These findings wer...

UNLABELLED This study aimed to determine the prevalence and early outcome of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Malaysia. This prospective study included all neonates with NTDs (spina bifida, anencephaly, encephalocoele) born in 2009 in 32 Malaysian hospitals in the Malaysian National Neonatal Network. The prevalence of NTDs was 0.42 per 1000 live births, being highest among the indigenous people of...