Spina Bifida Lawsuit
Usually, during the initial stages of pregnancy, both sides of the backbone (or spine) fuse together to cover the spinal cord, spinal nerves, and meninges (tissues covering the spinal cord). Spina bifida is a disorder in reference to any types of birth defects dealing with an incomplete closure of the spine.
Spina bifida myelomeningocele is the most often found kind of spina bifida. It is a neural tube defect (ntd) where the bones in the spine have not completely formed, which causes an incomplete spinal canal. The incomplete spinal canal in spina bifida myelomeningocele causes the spinal cord and meninges to protrude from the child’s back.
Myelomeningocele might affect as many as 1 out of every 800 infants.
The two other common forms of spina bifida are:
- Spina bifida occulta – a condition in which the bones of the spine do not close but the spinal cord and meninges remain in place and skin usually covers the defect
- Spina bifida meningoceles – a condition where the tissue covering the spinal cord sticks out of the spinal defect but the spinal cord remains in place.
Sometimes in cases of spina bifida myelomeningocele, other congenital birth defects might be present in the child. As many as 90% of children with myelomeningocele might also have hydrocephalus. There are also some other musculoskeletal or spinal cord disorders that might be present in children with spina bifida myelomeningocele.
Can Depakote, Topamax or Tegretol Cause Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele?
The exact cause of spina bifida myelomeningocele is unclear, but in a 2006 medical study published in the Journal of Neurology the commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs like Depakote present a higher risk of developing neural tube defects in the fetus (unborn baby). Such neural tube defects include Spina Bifida Occulta, Spina Bifida Meningocele and Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele. The results of a 2010 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine did not contradict those findings. The harmful birth defects associated with Valproic Acid have also been noted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA issued a warning about medicines containing or derived from Valproic Acid in 2006. ( See FDA DEPAKOTE WARNING)
Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele Lawsuits – Talk to a Spina Bifida Lawyer
If your child was born with severe birth defects, neural tube defects, spina bifida or other skeletal defects or growth retardation which may have resulted from Depakote, Tegretol or Topamax being taken during pregnancy, call and talk to our law firm immediately. Our spina bifida lawyers have represented thousands of clients injured by dangerous drugs and products over the last 25 years and they understand drug litigation.
Call for a Free and Confidential Spina Bifida Lawsuit Evaluation. Talk to a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer licensed in Texas and in New York; with a National Presence and Highest Peer Review Rating possible – AV. All cases are taken on a contingency fee basis and the client is never charged an attorney fee or any legal case expenses unless a recovery is obtained. Our law firm is handling a large number of birth defect cases and we understand the dangerous nature of this product and potential defects. Contact our law firm immediately and speak to a Spina Bifida lawyer about the legal options available to you and your family
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