Question
The baby has an S2 vertebral plate imperforate, and bedwetting occurs at night if not awakened. Previous treatment and outcomes: A lumbar sacral radiograph was taken, revealing that the S1 and S2 vertebral plates are not fused, with the rest being normal. Needed assistance: How should it be treated, can it heal naturally?
Answer
The baby’s condition is known as spina bifida, a congenital developmental abnormality of the spine. Bedwetting is one of the clinical manifestations of this condition, primarily due to compression of the sacral nerve, which affects the bladder’s contraction function and leads to enuresis. If the gap between the vertebral plates is small and the child’s bedwetting is mild, treatment is usually not required. As the child grows, this bedwetting phenomenon may sometimes disappear naturally. However, if there is persistent night-time enuresis, or abnormal urination, or continued neurological symptoms, and after relevant examinations, surgery may be necessary. The purpose of the surgery is to remove the fibrous and fatty tissue compressing the nerve roots and to repair the scar on the vertebral plates.