Spina Bifida is a common and disabling disorder in which the
embryonic neural tube does not fully close. Physical medicine and
rehabilitation specialists work collaboratively alongside
orthopaedic surgeons and urologists at Shriners Hospitals for
Children – Northern California to help children with Spina Bifida
lead active, productive lives.
Patients are generally seen in our Spina Bifida Clinic at least
once per year. Typically more for younger children. Clinics are
held at least five times per month, on Tuesday’s and Friday’s.
Every clinic is fully booked months in advance, so we urge you to
call as early as possible to change or cancel any clinic
appointment.
Persons with Spina Bifida, or pregnant women who are carrying a
fetus diagnosed with Spina Bifida, can be referred to the Spina
Bifida program by their primary care provider or
via self-referral. Please call
our Referral Center at (916)
453-2191 or via email at referrals.ncal@shrinenet.org.
Visit this page to learn what to expect from our Spina
Bifida team at your clinic visit.
Medical Concentration
- Myelomeningocele, myelodysplasia, lipomeningocele
- Non-surgical and surgical treatment to achieve bowel and
bladder continence
- Surgical and orthotic treatment of orthopaedic deformities
(legs and spine)
- Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
- Genitourinary (bladder, kidney)
- Gastrointestinal (colon)
- Musculoskeletal (spine and lower extremities)
Conditions Treated
We treat children with the following conditions:
- Lipomeningocele
- Meningocele
- Myelomeningocele
- Sacral agenesis
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal cord lipoma
- Split cord malformation
- Terminal myelocystocele
- VATER /VACTERL associations
The Medical Team
The Medical Team
Maya Evans,
M.D.
Medical Director of Spina Bifida Program
Dr. Evans is Board Certified by the American Board of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation in Brain Injury Medicine, Pediatric
Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation.
Craig McDonald,
M.D.
Associate Medical Director
Dr. McDonald is Board certified in both Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation and Pediatric Rehabilitation
Medicine. He also is Professor of Clinical Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
at the University of California Davis, School of Medicine.
Vedant Kulkarni,
M.D.
Dr. Kulkarni’s work is devoted to improving outcomes for
children with neuromuscular conditions, hip disorders and
traumatic injuries.
Sam
Ciricillo, M.D.
Neurological Surgeon
Dr. Ciricillo is a Diplomate with the American Board of
Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Pediatric
Neurological Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of
Surgeons.
Eric Kurzrock, M.D.
Urologic Surgeon
Dr. Kuzrock is Board certified by the Medical Board of
California, Physician and Surgeon, and the American Board of
Urology and the recipient of numerous awards.
Jennifer Yang,
M.D.
Urologist
Dr. Yang specializes in providing urologic care for infants
and children.
Katie Bastian, RN
Spina Bifida & Urology Care Manager
Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Care
All patients benefit from the expertise of the entire medical
team, which provides multi-disciplinary clinics. Coordinated by
the Case Manager, the collaborative approach to care extends to
nurses, physical therapists, orthotists, and child-life
therapists who treat patients in mind, body and spirit. The
expertise, experience and environment of care create a synergy
that distinguishes the Spina Bifida program at Shriners Hospitals
for Children.
Research
Diana Farmer, M.D., Chief of Pediatric Surgery and Chair of
Surgery at UC Davis, performs and studies repair of neural tube
defects in-utero. Meanwhile, scientific researchers at SHCNC
search for cures. Adding folic acid, a vitamin, to the maternal
diet diminishes the frequency of spina bifida, but how folate
does this remains a mystery. Through microscopic observations of
the developing frog, scientists at Shriners Hospital have
obtained novel evidence that folate increases the ability of
cells on the two sides of the spinal cord to fuse together and
prevent spina bifida. Another study is investigating whether a
protein that controls the development of arms, legs, the face and
brain may be involved in the etiology of spina bifida.
