Medical care of adults with spina bifida.

Survival into adulthood for individuals with spina bifida has significantly improved over the last 40 years. Health services research suggests the majority of patients with spina bifida are now over 18 years old. Adults with spina bifida have ongoing increased medical needs compared to the general population, including spina bifida-specific care, age-related secondary disabilities, and general adult medical needs. Unlike pediatric-aged patients, adults may not have access to multi-disciplinary spina bifida clinics and must often coordinate their own care with adult providers less familiar with spina bifida and the associated monitoring and treatment issues. This article will provide an overview of the medical issues of adults with spina bifida, highlighting areas that are different than pediatric care.