Myelodysplasia
Myelodysplasia is one form of spina bifida. It is usually defined by abnormalities of the spinal cord and vertebrae (the bones that make up the spine). Myelodysplasia occurs when the spinal cord, its coverings and the vertebrae fail to form properly. It affects not only the nervous system but also the muscular, skeletal and urinary systems. The incidence of myelodysplasia is about one in 1,000 live births. This makes it one of the most common abnormalities in the nervous systems of newborns.
Because of the number of body systems it affects, myelodysplasia is a very complex disorder. The Myelodysplasia Clinic at Children's, located on the Scottish Rite campus, provides medical, surgical, rehabilitative, psychological and support services during each stage of a child's development, from birth to age 21.
At the Myelodysplasia Clinic, our patients are seen by team members from one or more of the following specialties, according to their needs: genetics, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, orthotics, physical therapy, psychology, social work, urology, nursing and clinical nutrition.