The following symptoms and complaints may indicate spina bifida:
Pathognomonic (evidencing a disease).
- In spina bifida aperta: open, visible malformation.
Possible accompanying symptoms of spina bifida aperta (open, visible form).
- Walking problems
- Paresis (paralysis) of the legs
- Paraplegia
- Bladder and rectal disorders
- Hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus; pathological enlargement of the liquid-filled fluid spaces (cerebral ventricles) of the brain).
- Neurogenic bladder (dysfunction of the urinary bladder due to a disorder in the nervous system).
Possible accompanying symptoms in spina bifida aperta – myelomeningocele.
- Bladder and rectal disorders
- Riding pants sensory deficits of the legs
- Flaccid paresis (paralysis) of the legs
- Flexion contractures in the hip joint (joint stiffness in flexion position).
- X-legs (genu valgum)
- Clubfoot (Pes equinovarus, formerly also called Pes varus).
- Trophic disorders of the feet
Possible accompanying symptoms of spina bifida occulta (hidden, invisible form).
- Back pain
- Sphincter weakness (weakness of the sphincter muscles)
- Enuresis nocturna (nocturnal enuresis)
- Calf muscle atrophy (atrophy of the calf muscles).
- Clubfoot
- Skin changes over the defect – hypertrichosis (increased body and facial hair; without a male distribution pattern), telangiectasias (vascular veins), lipomas (fatty growths), pigmentation, skin retraction.
