Originally Posted by yabyosh
hi please help me on my case... please give me pathophy of myelomeningocele secondary to hydrocephalus..... please...... send me private message....
Hi, yabyosh, and welcome to allnurses!
I am posting this so that ALL members of allnurses can benefit from the information.
Myelomeningocele is one of three major types of spinal cord defects. In myelomeningocele (spinal bifida cystica), an external sac contains meninges, cerebrospinal fluid, and a portion of the spinal cord or nerve roots. Hydrocephalus is a
complication of the myelomenigocele and occurs in 85% of the infants who have a spinal cord defects (page 597,
Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children, third edition, by Kathryn L. McCance and Sue E. Heuther).
From
Pathophysiology: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses by Springhouse, page 135 on spina bifida:"Neural tube closure normally occurs at 24 days gestation in the cranial region and continues distally, with closure of the lumbar regions by 28 days. . .
In more severe forms of spina bifida, however, incomplete closure of one or more vertebrae causes protrusion of the spinal contents in an external sac or cystic lesion (spina bifida cystica). Spina bifida cystica has two classifications: myelomeningocele (meningomyelocele) and menigocele. In meylomenigocele, the external sac contains meninges, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and a protion of the spinal cord or nerve roots distal to the conus medullaris. When the spinal nerve roots end at the sac, motor and sensory functions below the sac are terminated. In meningocele, less severe than myelomeningocele, the sac contains only meninges and CSF. Meningocele may produce no neurologic symptoms."
From
Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children, third edition, by Kathryn L. McCance and Sue E. Heuther, page 493 on the pathophysiology of hydrocephalus:"The obstruction of CSF flow associated with hydrocephalus produces dilation of the ventricles proximal to the obstruction. Obstructed CSF is under pressure, causing atrophy of the cerebral cortex and degeneration of the white matter tracts. There is selective preservation of gray matter. When excess CSF fills a defect caused by atrophy, a degenerative disorder, or a surgical excision, this fluid is not under pressure; therefore atrophy and degenerative changes are not induced."
Links to articles on this that have some very good information including pathophysiology are:
Would you like to comment?
