4. Tethered spinal cord
Many of those who suffer from spina bifida may not have apparent signs or visible disabilities. Even without visible signs, some mild neurological problems accompany the defect. In mild cases, there may be a small hairy patch on the skin at the bottom of the spine, a dark area along the trunk, or even a dimpling in the lower back. In more notable cases there may be an epidural lipoma, which is a fatty growth on the spinal cord. This growth may be harmless if it is small enough but it can also cause tethering of the spinal cord.
Spinal cord tethering is a neurologic disorder that restricts the movement of the spine within the spinal column. Though it is present in other neural tube defects and other diseases, it is most often linked with spina bifida. At least 50% of those born with spina bifida will have corrective surgery to repair or untether the spinal cord.