Overview

4.6 out of 5 (41 Reviews)

Credits

1.50

Post-Assessment Questions

11

Start Date

1 Sep 2023

Last Review Date

4 May 2025

Expiration Date

31 Aug 2026

Estimated Time To Finish

90 Minutes


Unlimited Nurse CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6687 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7949.5 hours of CE.

Single Activity

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Activity Description

Spina bifida is a congenital neural tube defect caused by incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube, typically between days 17 and 30 of fetal development. The defect can occur anywhere along the spine and may cause varying degrees of spinal cord and nerve damage. Severity ranges from mild, asymptomatic spina bifida occulta to more severe forms such as myelomeningocele, which involves spinal cord exposure and significant neurological impairments. Complications often include mobility challenges, hydrocephalus, and bowel or bladder dysfunction. Early diagnosis—often through prenatal ultrasound using "lemon and banana" signs, with postnatal MRI for further evaluation—is critical for guiding management. Prevention with folic acid supplementation and food fortification has significantly reduced incidence rates. Treatment may involve prenatal or postnatal surgical repair, including emerging minimally invasive fetal techniques, which improve outcomes. Early planning for transitioning to adult care is essential and should consider the patient’s age and cognitive level. A "specialty medical home" model, led by a spina bifida expert, is recommended to optimize long-term outcomes and quality of life.

This activity provides a comprehensive understanding of spina bifida, including its pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and current strategies for prevention, evaluation, and treatment. This activity emphasizes the importance of interprofessional collaboration, illustrating how coordinated efforts among healthcare professionals can reduce morbidity and improve patient outcomes. This activity fosters interprofessional communication and teamwork among healthcare providers to help participants develop patient-centered management plans that address the complex needs of individuals with spina bifida and improve their quality of life.


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify the embryologic basis and types of neural tube defects, with a focus on spina bifida.

  • Implement evidence-based prenatal and postnatal management strategies for spina bifida, including surgical and supportive care.

  • Apply current guidelines for folic acid supplementation and public health strategies to prevent neural tube defects.

  • Collaborate with a multidisciplinary healthcare team to deliver comprehensive care, ensure continuity, and optimize patient outcomes.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflict(s) of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

In support of improving patient care, StatPearls, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

 

Nurses: StatPearls designates this activity for 1.50 ANCC contact hour(s). Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.

 

 
 

Reviews

Lisa R. on 11/15/2021

Dr.Ayodhyaprasad S. on 7/11/2022

Murchana K. on 9/28/2022

Rachel E. on 11/23/2022

SYED M. on 12/12/2022

Wilbert W. on 1/5/2023

Parthiban B. on 1/30/2023

Michele W. on 3/21/2023

Gautam P. on 3/27/2023

Dr Jagveer S. on 4/4/2023

Donna B. on 4/14/2023

Ajay P. on 5/25/2023

Adithya nikhileshwar B. on 5/27/2023

Gabrielle D. on 8/22/2023

Josiah B. on 10/4/2023

Walter W. on 11/1/2023

Parash Pratim B. on 11/6/2023

Nivetha V. on 11/10/2023

Keaton A. on 11/12/2023

Akshaya K. on 11/19/2023

Nida A. on 11/20/2023

Malani K. on 1/3/2024

ChiaHui N. on 2/27/2024

Ali A. on 3/10/2024

Tarun S. on 3/20/2024

Lindsey A. on 4/5/2024

Likta N. on 4/18/2024

Dr. Neha K. on 4/19/2024

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Christine A. on 6/16/2024

PRANEET R. on 7/12/2024

Inderpreet K. on 9/9/2024

Gabrielle D. on 10/18/2024

Linda Y. on 11/4/2024

Meghna R. on 11/30/2024

WILBERT W. on 12/17/2024

carlos l. on 1/31/2025

Priyanka V. on 3/14/2025

zahid H. on 3/15/2025

Aditya B. on 3/16/2025

KIEV H. on 5/28/2025

Unlimited Nurse CE

Stay up to date on the latest medical knowledge with 6687 CE activities. In these online self-assessment activities, read our reference articles and test your knowledge with more than 7949.5 hours of CE.

Single Activity

Take this single activity

$37.50 1 activity

6 Month Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$89 per half year per user

1 Year Unlimited Nurse CE

Access to all the Unlimited Nurse CE activities in all specialties.

$139 per 1 year per user