What is Encephalocele?
Encephalocele , also referred to as cranium bifidum , is a case of birth defect and happen very seldom where there is defect in the neural thermionic valve . The neural tube is a minute channel that folds up and closes during the third and fourth weeks of pregnancy to form the spinal cord and mentality . When the neural tube-shaped structure run out to close whole during fetal development in maternity , it leads to neural pipe defect . Encephalocele is a pouch - same projection or protrusion of the brain and its covering membranes through the skull ’s opening . This results in an opening , which can be present anywhere , ordinarily at the back of the head , along the midline of the skull from the nose to the later side of the cervix , the top of the brain , or between the forehead and the nose . Patient has vallecula running down in the center of the skull , or between the nozzle and forehead or on the posterior side of the skull . The severity of encephalocele count on its location .
Classification of Encephalocele
Facial encephaloceles are classified as nasofrontal , naso - orbital and nasoethmoidal . Encephalocele can also recrudesce along any neighborhood of the cranial burial vault , as they form due to failure or abnormal closing of the cranial bones . There can also be some overlap in the eccentric of encephalocele . Occipital region is the most common site for encephalocele . If the protrusion bear only the overlying tissue layer and cerebrospinal fluid , then it is termed as meningocele . If the protrusion control brain tissue paper in it , then it may be forebode as meningoencephalocele .
Signs & Symptoms of Encephalocele
Craniofacial abnormalities or other malformations of the brain commonly accompany encephalocele . Patient has symptoms which include :
Causes of Encephalocele
The exact movement of encephalocele is not unmortgaged , but when the neural tube flunk to entirely close up during fetal developing , it moderate to encephalocele . harmonize to bailiwick , teratogen , which are substances or agents that make fertilized egg malformation or nativity defects ; trypan blue , which is a grunge ; and arsenic can cause damage to the developing foetus and cause the organisation of encephalocele .
There is an genetic or genetic factor to this condition also , where there is increase risk of exposure for encephalocele if neuronal tube defects , such as anencephaly and spina bifida run in the family . It is also thought that certain types of environmental pic during or before the pregnancy can also have encephalocele .
Taking adequate amount of folic Zen before and during the pregnancy avail in keep neural thermionic valve defects include encephalocele .
Diagnosis of Encephalocele
As encephalocele are noticeable deformity , they are diagnosed mightily after nascence . However , in some suit , a small encephalocele in the brow or os nasale region can stay on undetected . Different types of genial and physical developmental postponement may show that the patient has encephalocele . Encephalocele which is present at the back of the skull can cause more problems with the nervous organisation , as well as other facial and brain defects . Other signaling of encephalocele which will help with the diagnosis are :
Treatment for Encephalocele
As of now , surgery is the only in effect treatment for encephalocele , which is done during the child ’s infancy . The protruding division of the head and its membrane are push back into the skull and the hatchway in the skull is closed . This relieves the pressure , which is exert and hinders normal development of the brain . The degree of correction of the encephalocele depends on its size of it and locating . Large protrusions can be repaired without causing any major disability . In some shell , shunts can also be placed to assist drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid that has accumulated in the head . However , the child still can stand from neurological problems , which are because of the encephalocele . The circumstance of the youngster determines the longsighted - term treatment of encephalocele . More than one surgery may also be needed . It depend on the fix of the encephalocele and the parts of the font and head affected by the encephalocele . Daily intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid in maternity assist in preventing nervous tubing defects , include encephalocele .
The Aim of Treatment for Encephalocele Includes :
Outcome & Recovery from Encephalocele
It is difficult to predict the consequence and recovery before the surgery and it count on the type and position of the encephalocele and the eccentric of brain tissue , which is involved . If the reparative operation is successful , and patient has not had any developmental delays , then the patient can continue to formulate normally . When there already has been developmental and neurologic damage , then the doctor will concentrate on downplay both the genial as well as forcible disablement . A complete recovery is potential if the bulging sac principally consists of cerebrospinal fluid . If the encephalocele consists of large amount of brain tissue paper , the risk of perioperative complicatedness is more .
