BACKGROUND The global prevalence of myelomeningocele has been reported to be 0.8-1 per 1,000 live births. Early closure of the defect is considered to be the standard of care. Various surgical methods have been reported, such as primary skin closure, local skin flaps, musculocutaneous flaps, and skin grafts. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of myelomeningocele ...

This study was undertaken to establish whether children with myelomeningocele have abnormal kinaesthesia of the hands. Twenty-one children with myelomeningocele and 21 control children aged between six and 12 years were involved in the study. The level of kinaesthetic awareness in the hands was measured by examining the child's ability to copy hand positions, using visual cueing and kinaestheti...

OBJECTIVE Myelomeningocele may be isolated but more frequently is associated with other anomalies. Congenital heart disease occurs with different incidence rate in myelomeningocele which is observed more frequently with skeletal malformations. METHODS This study was undertaken in the Children's Hospital Medical Center between 2010 to 2012 to evaluate 75 myelomeningocele patients for cardiac a...

1. Recognize the signs and symptoms of ventricular shunt failure (increased intracranial pressure). 2. Identify the signs and symptoms of tethered spinal cord. 3. List signs and symptoms of Chiari II malformation. 4. Apply the three-level classification system to patients who have spinal cord abnormalities. 5. Use system-based recommendations for ongoing surveillance and care of patients who ha...

We report the first family with Waardenburg syndrome type 1 and myelomeningocele in which more than one subject was affected with both disorders. The possible association is discussed. Prenatal screening for myelomeningocele is suggested for a family with Waardenburg syndrome type 1.

With the spread of a policy that the infant with myelomeningocele should receive surgery as early as possible after birth, the survival rate of the infant with this serious malformation has greatly improved. However, this early operation for myelomeningocele has also increased the number of severely handicapped survivors. Such a dilemma in treatment of myelomeningocele forced some clinicians to...

BACKGROUND Infection significantly affects mortality and morbidity in myelomeningocele cases. Ventricular tap is the most common method performed to diagnose central nervous system (CNS) infection in myelomeningocele patients. However, the ventricular tap can cause serious trauma to the baby and to the family. Here we discuss the technique of taking a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample from the s...

CONTEXT Hindbrain herniation occurs in a large percentage of children with myelomeningocele and is the leading cause of death in this population. The effect of early fetal closure of myelomeningocele on hindbrain herniation is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine whether early fetal closure of myelomeningocele affects hindbrain herniation. DESIGN Case series of patients undergoing fetal myelomen...