Children’s of Mississippi clinic acclaimed for spina bifida care

Children’s of Mississippi’s multidisciplinary spina bifida clinic has been recognized by the Spina Bifida Association as an SBA Clinic Care Partner.

The prestigious designation means the clinic, located in the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower at UMMC, meets the highest standards in providing comprehensive, coordinated care for individuals with spina bifida.

The team, which includes neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, urologists, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers and experts in pediatrics, orthotics and complex care, delivers care aligned with SBA Guidelines and connects patients to valuable resources.

Babies with spina bifida may have spinal cord and nerve damage because the neural tube has not closed all the way. This can result in mild to severe physical and intellectual disabilities, depending on the size and location of the opening and how it affects the spinal cord and nerves.

In the U.S., about 166,000 people have spina bifida. About 1,400 children are born with this condition.

The SBA Clinic Care Partner program is an initiative that stems from the Spina Bifida Collaborative Care Network, a program that works to identify the needs of people with spina bifida, connect with health care providers, show clinics with the best outcomes, and target research priorities.