Spina bifida: the personal and financial cost of incontinence.

Spina bifida is a congenital defect in the spinal column in which one or more vertebrae fail to form. The effect of spina bifida on continence is usually complicated by the effect of hydrocephalus on the ability to learn and master the necessary skills to overcome the problems. The childhood and adolescence of some individuals who have spina bifida has been ruined by professionals who chose to ignore the wider implications of severe congenital disability and its effects upon the child's education, personal and social development, and the quality of family life. A holistic approach to management, from birth onwards, should facilitate the interdisciplinary cooperation which is vital if these human tragedies are to be avoided.