Health

Spina bifida was first described by Babylonian priests in 1700 BC. Skeletal remains dating back 12,000 years have been discovered with this condition. Prior to the 1940s almost all children born with the condition died because of the lack of neurosurgical intervention. Even after neurosurgical closure of the deficit, children often died because of complications from hydrocephalus and kidney failure (see section on Management). With today’s advances in management, both of these conditions have been minimized and survival has now dramatically improved.