Why are children with Spina Bifida prone to developing Hydrocephalus?
Children with Spina Bifida often have a part of the brain that is a bit bigger than usual. It is found low down near the back of the brain and is called the cerebellum. This is diagnosed by looking at the pictures of a head scan. This finding is called the Chiari or Arnold Chiari Malformation, after the Doctors who first reported it. In children with Spina Bifida the large cerebellum may press on and squeeze bits of the brain near by. This can cause them to stop working. This may lead to problems with headaches, stiff neck, difficulty swallowing and weakness of the arms and legs. There is also an important ventricle near the cerebellum. It may also be squeezed and become blocked. This will stop the flow of CSF and lead to raised pressure in the head. This is why children with Spina Bifida are prone to developing Hydrocephalus.
