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The consequences of this malformation vary with where the damage is located, to what extent the spinal cord and nerve roots are affected, and if the breakage is complete or partial. Neural impulses do not reach their destination in a normal way, leading to muscular deficiency with paralysis and reduced mobility, numbness, poor circulation in the legs and a higher risk of bone fracture. Many people become confined to wheelchairs and can develop dislocated hipjoints and misaligned legs and back. NTD does not only imply reduced mobility, it also affects several other bodily functions. Among other things, the bladder's and rectum's nerve functionality is disturbed in 90% and 80%, respectively, of children with NTD.
Over 80% of children with NTD develop hydrocephalus, which means that the fluid created in the brain cannot circulate freely. This fluid stays in the brain's cavities and applies pressure to the newborn baby's soft skullbone, which expands and the head grows. This can be treated by surgically placing a pressure-relieving shunt that is made of a thin hose with a pressure-regulating valve. This congenital brain alteration and the pressure it exerts on the brain can sometimes lead to delayed puberty, decreased fine motor skills, but also certain typical cognitive problems such as affected memory, difficulty understanding consequences and reduced initiative.
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