Other types of Spina Bifida are more serious. If part of the backbone, nerves and spinal cord are exposed at the bottom of the cyst, these will often burst even before birth. The severity of the handicap is depending on the part of the back that is affected. If the neck is affected, the nerves for breathing are usually affected and the baby will die shortly after birth. If the very bottom of the spine is involved, the few nerves going to the feet may be abnormal, and the baby may be born with nothing more serious than Club Feet .
Club feet is where the bones in the ankle are in the wrong position, causing the ankle to twist.
If the middle of the back is involved, the results are usually far more serious. Generally, the greater the opening in the back, the worse the outlook. A severely affected child may develop curvature of the spine at puberty, which can be corrected by major surgery. For various reasons, some of these children may be mentally retarded to certain degrees. The last type is a fatty lump that can form at the base of the spine.