Articles about Spina Bifida

Please see CDC’s folic acid page for research on neural tube defects.

Publications

Key Findings

Key Findings: Study helps clinicians and families anticipate surgeries for individuals with spina bifida
In a study appearing in Pediatrics, CDC scientists and other researchers describe the lifetime occurrence of common surgeries and four key health outcomes in individuals with spina bifida.

Scientific Articles

* These CDC-authored scientific articles are listed in order of date published, starting with the most recent.
**We have a separate webpage with a list of all published research from the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.

Baseline Urinary Imaging in Infants Enrolled in Urologic Management to Preserve Initial Renal Function (UMPIRE) Protocol for Children with Spina Bifida.
Journal of Urology. 2019 Jun
Tanaka ST, Paramsothy P, Thibadeau J, Wiener JS, Joseph DB, Cheng EY, Tu D, Austin C, Koh CJ, Wallis MC, Walker WO, Smith KA, Routh JC, Baum MA.
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Differences in Continence Rates in Individuals with Spina Bifida Based on Ethnicity.
Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine. 2019 Dec 19
Smith, KA, Liu, T, Freeman, KA, Betz, C, Clayton, GH, Castillo, H, Castillo, J, Tu, D, Van Speybroeck A, Walker, WO
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Differences in length of stay and costs between comparable hospitalizations of patients with spina bifida with or without pressure injuries.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2019 August
Wang Y, Ouyang L, Dicianno BE, Beierwaltes P, Valdez R, Thibadeau J, Bolen J.
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Differences in Continence Rates in Individuals with Spina Bifida Based on Ethnicity.
J Pediatr Rehabil Med. 2019;12(4):361–368.
Smith KA, Liu T, Freeman KA, et al.
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Differences in length of stay and costs between comparable hospitalizations of patients with spina bifida with or without pressure injuries.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2019 Jan 23
Wang Y, Ouyang L, Dicianno BE, Beierwaltes P, Valdez R, Thibadeau J, Bolen J.
[Read Summary]

Surgeries and Health Outcomes Among Patients With Spina Bifida.
Pediatrics 2018 September
Alabi NB, Thibadeau J, Wiener JS, Conklin MJ, Dias MS, Sawin KJ, Valdez R.
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Bladder Management and Continence Outcomes in Adults with Spina Bifida: Results from the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry, 2009 to 2015.
Journal of Urology 2018 July
Wiener JS, Suson KD, Castillo J, Routh JC, Tanaka ST, Liu T, Ward EA, Thibadeau JK, Joseph DB; National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.
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Longitudinal Study of Bladder Continence in Patients with Spina Bifida in the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.
Journal of Urology 2018 March
Liu T, Ouyang L, Thibadeau JK, Wiener JS, Routh JC, Castillo H, Castillo J, Freeman KA, Sawin KJ, Smith K, Van Speybroeck A, Valdez R.
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Bladder Reconstruction Rates Differ among Centers Participating in National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.
Journal of Urology 2018 January
Routh JC, Joseph DB, Liu T, Schechter MS, Thibadeau JK, Wallis MC, Ward EA, Wiener JS.
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Periconceptional maternal fever, folic acid intake, and the risk for neural tube defects.
Ann Epidemiol. 2017; 27(12):777-782e1.
Kerr SM, Parker SE, Mitchell AA, Tinker SC, Werler MM.
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Design and Methodological Considerations of the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry Urologic and Renal Protocol for the Newborn and Young Child
Journal of Urology 2016 Jul 27.
Routh JC, Cheng EY, Austin JC, Baum MA, Gargollo PC, Grady RW, Herron AR, Kim SS, King SJ, Koh CJ, Paramsothy P, Raman L, Schechter MS, Smith KA, Tanaka ST, Thibadeau JK, Walker WO, Wallis MC, Wiener JS, Joseph DB.
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Additional Selected Articles

Philosophy of Care Delivery for Spina Bifida.
Disability and Health Journal. 2020 April
Thibadeau J, Walker WO, Castillo J, Dicianno BE, Routh JC, Smith KA, Ouyang L.
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Retrospective assessment of cost savings from prevention: folic acid fortification and spina bifida in the U.S.
Am Jl Prev Med. 2016 May;50 (5):S74-80.
Grosse SD, Berry RJ, Tilford JM, Kucik JE, Waitzman NJ.
[Read full article] [Read key findings]

Language and Latino immigrants living with spina bifida: Social determinants of health-the missing dimension in quality of life research.
J Pediatr Rehabil Med. 2019;12(4):345–359.
Castillo J, Gandy K, Bradko V, Castillo H.
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Maternal use of weight loss products and the risk of neural tube defects in offspring: a systematic literature review.
Birth Defects Res. 2018; 110(1):48-55.
Hoang TT, Agopian AJ, Mitchell LE.
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Association of clomiphene and assisted reproductive technologies with the risk of neural tube defects.
Am J Epidemiol. 2016; 183(11):977-987.
Benedum CM, Yazdy MM, Parker SE, Mitchell AA, Werler MM.
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Supplement use and other characteristics among pregnant women with a previous pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect – United States, 1997-2009.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015 Jan; 64(1):6-9
Arth A, Tinker S, Moore C, Canfield M, Agopian A, Reefhuis J.
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A Randomized Trial of Prenatal versus Postnatal Repair of Myelomeningocele
The New England Journal of Medicine; 2011 March 17; 364:993-1004 Adzick NS, et al
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