How is myelomeningocele treated

Treatment of myelomeningocele is usually started within the first 48 hours after birth with surgery to correct the alteration in the spine and prevent the appearance of infections or new lesions in the spinal cord, limiting the type of sequelae.

Although treatment for myelomeningocele with surgery is effective in curing the baby's spine injury, it is not able to treat the sequelae that the baby has had since birth. That is, if the baby was born with paralysis or incontinence, for example, it will not be cured, but it will prevent the appearance of new sequelae that could arise from spinal cord exposure.

How is the surgery done

Surgery to treat myelomeningocele is usually done in the hospital under general anesthesia and should ideally be done by a team that contains a neurosurgeon and a plastic surgeon. That's because it usually follows the following step-by-step:

The spinal cord is closed by the neurosurgeon; The back muscles are closed by a plastic surgeon and the neurosurgeon; Finally, the skin is closed by the plastic surgeon.

Often, as there is little skin available at the site of the myelomeningocele, the surgeon needs to remove a piece of skin from another part of the baby's back or bottom, to perform an excerpt and close the opening in the back.

In addition, most babies with myelomeningocele can also develop hydrocephalus, which is a problem that causes excessive accumulation of fluid inside the skull and, therefore, it may be necessary to have a new surgery after the first year of life to place a system that helps to drain fluids to other parts of the body. Learn more about how hydrocephalus is treated.

Is it possible to have surgery on the uterus?

Although it is less frequent, in some hospitals, there is also the option of having surgery to end the myelomeningocele before the end of the pregnancy, still inside the womb of the pregnant woman.

This surgery can be done at around 24 weeks, but it is a very delicate procedure that should only be done by a well-trained surgeon, which ends up making the surgery more expensive. However, the results of surgery in the uterus appear to be better, as there is less possibility of new spinal cord injuries during pregnancy.

Physiotherapy for myelomeningocele

Physiotherapy for myelomeningocele should be done during the baby's growth and development process to maintain the amplitude of the joints and avoid muscle atrophy.

In addition, physiotherapy is also a great way to encourage children to deal with their limitations, as in the case of paralysis, allowing them to have an independent life, through the use of crutches or wheelchairs, for example.

When you go back to the doctor

After the baby is discharged from the hospital it is important to go to the doctor when symptoms such as:

Fever above 38ºC; Lack of desire to play and apathy; Redness at the surgery site; Decreased strength in unaffected limbs; Frequent vomiting; Dilated softness.

These symptoms can indicate serious complications, such as infection or hydrocephalus, so it is important to go to the emergency room as soon as possible.