Children's National Medical Center

The Spina Bifida Program, directed by the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is a multidisciplinary program that provides care for children and young adults with myelodysplasia and other spinal anomalies or injuries. The Children's National Medical Center (CNMC) Spina Bifida Program is composed of physicians from the following medical specialties: Neurosurgery, Urology, Orthopedics, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Other members of the team include a pediatric nurse practitioner, a urology nurse, and a social worker. Through their growing years, children wtih myelodysplasia or spinal cord anomalies may develop medical, social, and educational problems. It is difficult for any single physician or specialty to provide all of the care that these children need. Therefore, a multidisciplinary team approach was adopted at CNMC to address the needs of these children. The goal of the Spina Bifida Program is to promote prevention as well as early recognition of problems in order to minimize additional complications in the future.