5,663 results match your criteria Myelomeningocele
J Pediatr Surg 2018 Nov 5. Epub 2018 Nov 5.
Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Electronic address:
Purpose: Transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) with select mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to induce partial or complete skin coverage of spina bifida in rodents. Clinical translation of this emerging therapy hinges on its efficacy in larger animal models. We sought to study TRASCET in a model requiring intra-amniotic injections 60 times larger than those performed in the rat. Read More
Pediatr Phys Ther 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.
Department of Kinesiology (Dr Lee), California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, California; Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy (Dr Sansom), School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Purpose: To determine the feasibility of an early treadmill training program for infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) and to measure changes in overt infant motor development and control, including mechanisms underlying the overt changes.
Methods: Ten infants with MMC were initially enrolled: 8 infants completed 12 consecutive months of training, and 2 completed 6 months of training. Training consisted primarily of home-based, parent-administered treadmill stepping practice 5 days per week, 10 minutes per day starting within 6 months postbirth. Read More
Eur J Anaesthesiol 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.
From the Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Department (SM, IG, MP, RP, DB, MdN), Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department (NM, SA, EC), Paediatric Surgery Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (CG, JAM, ML).
Background: Prenatal myelomeningocele repair by open surgery can improve the neurological prognosis of children with this condition. A shift towards a fetoscopic approach seems to reduce maternal risks and improve obstetric outcomes.
Objective: The aim of this study was to report on the anaesthetic management of women undergoing prenatal open or fetoscopic surgery for neural tube defects. Read More
J Pediatr Rehabil Med 2018 Nov 18. Epub 2018 Nov 18.
Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Purpose: To increase knowledge about pain and general health in adults with myelomeningocele, a health condition with several risk factors for pain such as musculoskeletal deformities, shunt dysfunctions, bowel problems, and urinary tract infections/stones.
Methods: Descriptive correlational pilot study (N= 51, 53% males). Chi-square tests were used to test associations among presence, impact, severity, and pain site in relation to sex and age. Read More
J Pediatr Rehabil Med 2018 Nov 18. Epub 2018 Nov 18.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Background: Prenatal surgery for myelomeningocele (MMC) has been demonstrated to have benefits over postnatal surgery. Nevertheless, prenatal surgery requires a significant emotional, physical, and financial commitment from the entire family.
Methods: Mixed methods study of parents' perceptions regarding provider communication, treatment choices, and the family impact of having a child with MMC. Read More
J Pediatr Rehabil Med 2018 Nov 18. Epub 2018 Nov 18.
The George Washington University Biostatistics Center, Rockville, MD, USA.
Purpose: To evaluate for differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes at 30 months of age for children enrolled in the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) based on the presence of hydrocephalus and cerebral shunts.
Methods: Children with no hydrocephalus (N= 27), children with shunted hydrocephalus (N= 108), and children with unshunted hydrocephalus (N= 36) were compared at 30 months of age on the Bayley II Mental and Psychomotor Indices, the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 and the Preschool Language Scale, 4th edition. Generalized linear models were used to adjust for factors significantly different between the groups at baseline. Read More
World J Nucl Med 2018 Oct-Dec;17(4):249-252
Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal - Nuclear Medicine Service, Brasília, Brasil.
The aim of this study was to assess the colonic transit in children and teenagers with chronic constipation. Twenty patients from 1.5 to 16 years old were included (mean age = 6. Read More
Int J Obstet Anesth 2018 Oct 23. Epub 2018 Oct 23.
Servicio de Obstetricia, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
J Neurosurg Pediatr 2018 Oct 1:1-6. Epub 2018 Oct 1.
OBJECTIVEThe majority of children with myelomeningocele undergo implantation of CSF shunts. The efficacy of adding surveillance imaging to clinical evaluation during routine follow-up as a means to minimize the hazard associated with future shunt failure has not been thoroughly studied.METHODSA total of 300 spina bifida clinic visits during the calendar years between 2012 and 2016 were selected for this study (defined as the index clinic visit). Read More
J Neurosurg Pediatr 2018 Oct 1:1-10. Epub 2018 Oct 1.
OBJECTIVEMany studies have aimed to determine the most clinically effective surgical intervention for hydrocephalus. However, the costs associated with each treatment option are poorly understood. In this study, the authors conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis, calculating the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS), endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), and ETV with choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC) in an effort to better understand the clinical effectiveness and costs associated with treating hydrocephalus. Read More
J Paediatr Child Health 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.
Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland.
Aim: We wanted to investigate serum levels of ghrelin and leptin - appetite-regulating hormones - and their correlation with the nutritional status of children with neurogenic bladder (NB) due to myelomeningocele (MMC) in comparison to healthy individuals.
Methods: This prospective analysis was conducted on 67 children with NB after MMC and 20 healthy children. Children's medical charts were analysed to determine age, gender, anthropometric measurements, body mass index (BMI), activity assessment using Hoffer's scale and renal function parameters. Read More
Pediatr Neurosurg 2018 Nov 27:1-5. Epub 2018 Nov 27.
Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
We introduce a novel technique for the treatment of severe kyphosis in myelomeningocele. A 5-year-old paraplegic boy with myelomeningocele presented with severe thoracolumbar kyphosis and a chronic ulcus at the site of the gibbus. The myelomeningocele had been treated during his first week of life, and an accompanying Chiari type II malformation had been treated by ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Read More
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.
The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Objectives: Partial amniotic carbon dioxide (CO ) insufflation (PACI) is used to improve visualisation and enable complex fetoscopic surgery. However, concerns exist about fetal hypercapnic acidosis and post-operative fetal membrane inflammation. We assessed whether heated-humidified CO would reduce the impact of PACI on the fetus and fetal membranes in sheep. Read More
Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.
Department of Radiology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, 226014, India.
Background: Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based criteria for diagnosing magnitude of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) in occult spinal dysraphism are proposed.
Methods: In this prospective, case-control design study, MRI lumbosacral spine was performed in 51 subjects [pilot group (n = 10) without TCS (for defining radiological parameters), control group (n = 10) without TCS (for baseline assessment), and study group (n = 31) with spinal dysraphism (thick filum terminale [n = 12], lumbar/lumbosacral meningomyelocoele [n = 6], and lipomyelomeningocoele [n = 13])]. The parameters compared in control and study groups included oscillatory frequency (OF), difference in ratio, in supine/prone position, of distance between posterior margin of vertebral body and anterior margin of spinal cord (oscillatory distance [OD]), with canal diameter, at the level of conus as well as superior border of contiguous two vertebrae above that level; delta bending angle (ΔBA), difference, in supine/prone position, of angle between longitudinal axis of conus and that of lower spinal cord; and sagittal and axial root angles, subtended between exiting ventral nerve roots and longitudinal axis of cord. Read More
World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.
Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Objects: Given the lack of significant responses to many queries regarding behavior, treatment options and possible preventions of iatrogenic intraspinal inclusion tumors (IITs), we think that further clinical, radiological and follow up data are mandatory to better characterize this entity. We retrospectively reviewed a series of 14 consecutive patients affected by IIT occurred after myelomeningocele repair. The long follow-up is a mainstay of this series, that may help to better understand the history of this slow-growing disease. Read More
Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am 2018 Dec 16;30(4):499-507. Epub 2018 Oct 16.
Department of Nursing, Towson University, LI 322, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252, USA. Electronic address:
Advances made in the last several decades in the care of the fetus and newborn have had a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Delayed umbilical cord clamping in the preterm newborn results in fewer transfusions for anemia, decreased intraventricular hemorrhage, and decreased necrotizing enterocolitis. Because of advances made in fetal ultrasound diagnosis and technological advances, fetal surgeries to treat congenital diaphragmatic hernia, myelomeningocele, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, fetal lower urinary tract obstructions, amniotic band syndrome, and congenital cystic adenoid malformation or congenital pulmonary airway malformations have improved the quality of life and survival for these patients. Read More
Fetal Diagn Ther 2018 Nov 14:1-6. Epub 2018 Nov 14.
Department of Obstetrics, Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Introduction: Despite undoubtable benefits of open fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) repair, there are considerable maternal risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate and systematically categorize maternal complications after open fMMC repair.
Methods: We analyzed data of 40 fMMC repairs performed at the Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy. Read More
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.
Baylor College of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1 Baylor Plaza Houston Texas 77030-3411.
Objective: Cardiac dysfunction has been described in 60% of fetuses undergoing open myelomeningocele (MMC) repair. Routine Doppler evaluation of the umbilical artery (UA) and ductus venosus (DV) is challenging during fetal surgery. This study describes Doppler changes in the UA and DV in a cohort of fetuses during MMC repair. Read More
World Neurosurg 2018 Nov 8. Epub 2018 Nov 8.
Department of Neurosurgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an evidence - based treatment for chronic neuropathic pain, however there is a dearth of evidence investigating this modality in patients with tethered cord syndrome (TCS). We present a case of 55-year old woman with history of lipo-myelomeningocele repair and multiple detethering surgeries who presented with chronic low back and leg pain accompanied by progressive gait dysfunction. After a successful trial, she underwent SCS paddle lead placement that resulted in decrease of her visual analog scale (VAS) for pain from 9/10 to 0-2/10 as well as daily opioid intake from 90-199mg Morphine Equivalents Doses (MED) to 40-60mg MED. Read More
J Pediatr Surg 2018 Oct 5. Epub 2018 Oct 5.
Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Background/purpose: We sought to develop a minimally invasive intra-amniotic therapy for prenatal treatment of myelomeningocele (MMC) in an established rat model.
Methods: Time-dated pregnant rats were gavage-fed retinoic acid to induce MMC. Groups received intraamniotic injections at E17. Read More
Neurourol Urodyn 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.
Department of Urology, CACAU-NUPEP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Pediatr Neurosurg 2018 8;53(6):427-431. Epub 2018 Nov 8.
Bahcesehir University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Gaziantep Medical Park Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Tethered cord syndrome (TCS), a neurological disorder characterized by the lower settlement of the conus medullaris, is a congenital spinal disease which is caused by split cord syndrome, meningomyelocele, and spinal tumors. Cranial dermoid tumor (CDT) is a congenital benign tumor which is generally located on the midline of the cranium. Even though TCS is highly associated with spinal dermoid tumor, the relationship of CDT and TCS is unusual. Read More
Birth Defects Res 2018 Nov 6:e1407. Epub 2018 Nov 6.
Developmental Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Background: The National Spina Bifida Patient Registry (NSBPR) was established in 2008, as a partnership between the CDC and spina bifida (SB) clinics throughout the United States. The purpose of this study is to explore the initial work of this project through a literature review of published studies from the NSBPR and provide a description of how this body of literature has developed overtime.
Methods: We included studies indexed in MEDLINE by means of PubMed from January 2009 through April 2018. Read More
Pediatr Surg Int 2018 Nov 7. Epub 2018 Nov 7.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, International Center for Colorectal and Urogenital Care, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13123 East 16th Avenue, Box 323, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
Purpose: Our center has been successfully implementing a bowel management program (BMP) for fecal incontinence consecutive to anorectal malformation and Hirschsprung disease. Recently, the number of patients with spina bifida requiring management for fecal incontinence has increased. The purpose of this study was to review the results of bowel management in patients with spina bifida and the challenges unique to this population. Read More
J Craniofac Surg 2018 Nov 2. Epub 2018 Nov 2.
Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
Background: Myelomeningocele and/or meningocele is a defect of spine and spinal cord, and it is congenital. Although meningocele is a mild form of spina bifida, myelomeningocele is a more complex and serious form. There is a sac in both forms at the back. Read More
J Clin Neurosci 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.
Bahçeşehir University, Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.
Background: Meningomyelocele (MMC) is a condition that is originated by the fusion defect of the neural tube. It is a congenital anomaly and can be characterized by spinal cord defects and impaired skin integrity. It is very important to close the skin openings via three-dimensional artificial skin like construction for preventing infection and maintaining the healthy skin structure. Read More
Prenat Diagn 2018 Oct 30. Epub 2018 Oct 30.
Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK.
Aim: To establish the provision of fetal surgery for myelomeningocele (MMC) worldwide.
Methods: Through the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis (ISPD) Fetal Therapy Special Interest Group and the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet), fetal therapy centres were surveyed (September 2017-June 2018) regarding availability of fetal MMC surgical repair, patient inclusion criteria, repair techniques, number of cases, and outcome reporting. Responses were summarised on an interactive map on the ISPD website. Read More
Neurourol Urodyn 2018 Oct 23. Epub 2018 Oct 23.
Department of Urology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Aims: To evaluate the accuracy of dynamic ultrasonography (DUS), as a feasible alternative diagnostic method to identify detrusor overactivity (DO) in patients with neurogenic bladder.
Methods: We performed concurrent analysis of 81 pairs of urodynamic study (UDS) and DUS, in 63 patients with myelomeningocele (MMC), from June 2014 to February 2017. The assessment focused on bladder behavior during the filling phase, DO evaluation, DO with leakage, compliance, and maximum cystometric capacity (MCC). Read More
Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Oct 22. Epub 2018 Oct 22.
Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University Hospital and Children's Hospital of Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
Background: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a common subtype of congenital neural tube defects (NTD). Although congenital malformations including NTD are more common in twins, concordance, especially in dizygotic twins, is extremely rare and is found mostly in same-sex twins. The role of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of MMC is unclear. Read More
Ultraschall Med 2018 Oct 22. Epub 2018 Oct 22.
Department of Obstetrics, University-Hospital Zürich, Zürich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, Zürich, Switzerland.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the sonographic evolution of fetal head circumference (HC) and width of the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle (Vp) after open fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) repair and to assess whether pre- or postoperative measurements are helpful to predict the need for shunting during the first year of life.
Patients & Methods: All 30 children older than one year by January 2017 who previously had fMMC repair at the Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy were included. Sonographic evolution of fetal HC and Vp before and after fMMC repair was assessed and compared between the non-shunted (N = 16) and the shunted group (N = 14). Read More
Cureus 2018 Aug 13;10(8):e3137. Epub 2018 Aug 13.
Neurosurgery, Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, USA.
It has been proposed that hydrocephalus in children with myelomeningocele (MMC) can indicate a low intelligence quotient (IQ). Others have argued that it is not the mere presence of hydrocephalus but the superimposition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infections, multiple shunt procedures, and other CNS complications that lead to the lowering of IQ in these patients. In this paper, we review the literature to clarify the information about IQ in patients with MMC and whether it changes after infections and shunt procedures. Read More
AJR Am J Roentgenol 2018 Dec 17;211(6):1376-1380. Epub 2018 Oct 17.
1 Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3026.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine differences between patients with myelomeningocele and those with myelocele with respect to brain imaging findings at fetal MRI.
Materials And Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was performed of fetal MRI examinations revealing open spinal dysraphism from 2004 through 2016 with available diagnostic postnatal spinal MR images in conjunction with neurosurgical follow-up findings. Images were reviewed by two board-certified fellowship-trained pediatric neuroradiologists. Read More
Gait Posture 2019 Jan 9;67:128-132. Epub 2018 Oct 9.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Background: Gait analysis provides quantitative data that can be used to supplement standard clinical evaluation in identifying and understanding gait problems. It has been established that gait analysis changes treatment decision making for children with cerebral palsy, but this has not yet been studied in other diagnoses such as spina bifida.
Research Question: To determine the effects of gait analysis data on pathology identification and surgical recommendations in children with spina bifida. Read More
BJOG 2018 Oct 15. Epub 2018 Oct 15.
Department of Fetal Medicine, Armand Trousseau Hospital, APHP, Sorbonne University, Paris 6 University, Paris, France.
BJOG 2018 Oct 15. Epub 2018 Oct 15.
Hospital e Maternidade Santa Joana, São Paulo, Brazil.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2018 Oct 10. Epub 2018 Oct 10.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Saint John Regional Hospital, Horizon Health Network, Saint John, NB. Electronic address:
Background & Objectives: Prenatal screening and diagnostic imaging advances have led to an increased detection of CNS anomalies, including ventriculomegaly/congenital hydrocephalus (HCP), Dandy-Walker malformation (DWM), and myelomeningocele (MMC). Data on pregnancy outcomes and the impact of prenatal diagnosis on neonatal outcomes is limited. Our study aimed to provide data on obstetric and neonatal outcomes following prenatal diagnosis of one of three CNS anomalies. Read More
Am J Case Rep 2018 Oct 13;19:1222-1226. Epub 2018 Oct 13.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea.
BACKGROUND The treatment of patients with spinal deformities, such as developmental scoliosis in children with myelomeningocele, poses a formidable challenge. We observed the effects of a custom-made foot orthosis in a case of mild scoliosis with pelvic malalignment, in a patient with myelomeningocele. CASE REPORT The patient was a 5-year-old female who was diagnosed with myelomeningocele and who had a partial neurological deficit. Read More
J Pediatr Urol 2018 Sep 1. Epub 2018 Sep 1.
Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address:
Introduction: Achieving continence in children with neurogenic sphincteric incompetence is a challenge. Awareness of the long-term outcome in this young patient population is important. In the past 25 years, the study institution has built experience in bladder outlet procedures such as bladder neck sling and bladder neck reconstructions. Read More
J Pediatr Orthop 2018 Oct 8. Epub 2018 Oct 8.
Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
Background: Nearly 50% of individuals with myelomeningocele will develop a dislocated hip by skeletal maturity. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of hip status on functional outcomes in a cohort of adult patients with myelomeningocele.
Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of myelomeningocele >18 years were prospectively enrolled over a 12-month period. Read More
Disabil Rehabil 2018 Oct 8:1-12. Epub 2018 Oct 8.
e Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
Purpose: People with cerebral palsy (CP) or spina bifida (SB) often struggle to perform everyday-life activities. Both groups frequently also have difficulties in creating and using strategies effectively when performing tasks. The cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP) Approach combines the learning of cognitive strategies with task-specific approaches through a client-centred procedure. Read More
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018 Oct 4. Epub 2018 Oct 4.
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Department of Women and Child Health, Obstetrics and Neonatology Area, Rome, Italy.
J Neurotrauma 2018 Oct 4. Epub 2018 Oct 4.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 12314 , 3500 N.Broad Street , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States , 19140 ;
Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a devastating congenital neural tube defect, which results in the exposure of spinal cord to the intrauterine environment leading to secondary spinal cord injury and severe impairment. Though, the mechanisms underlying the secondary pathogenesis are clinically relevant, the exact cause of in utero acquired spinal cord damage remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether the Hyaluronic acid (HA) concentration in amniotic fluid (AF) in the retinoic acid-induced model of MMC is different from that in normal controls and whether these differences could have an impact on the viscosity of AF. Read More
Childs Nerv Syst 2018 Oct 3. Epub 2018 Oct 3.
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, House 41, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
Purpose: The literature on histopathological and molecular changes that might underlie secondary tethered cord syndrome (TCS) after myelomeningocele (MMC) repair surgeries remains sparse. To address this problem, we analyzed specimens, which were obtained during untethering surgeries of patients who had a history of MMC repair surgery after birth.
Methods: Specimens of 12 patients were analyzed in this study. Read More
J Pediatr Neurosci 2018 Jul-Sep;13(3):329-330
Department of Neurosurgery, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Myelomeningocele is one among the most common forms of spinal dysraphism. We report a newborn male child with leaking myelomeningocele who presented with apneic spells. He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging of the neuraxis, which revealed Chiari malformation and severe hydromyelia along with pneumocephalus. Read More
Neurosurg Focus 2018 Oct;45(4):E2
Global Neurosurgery Initiative, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
There is inadequate pediatric neurosurgical training to meet the growing burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Subspecialty expertise in the management of hydrocephalus and spina bifida-two of the most common pediatric neurosurgical conditions-offers a high-yield opportunity to mitigate morbidity and avoid unnecessary death. The CURE Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida (CHSB) fellowship offers an intensive subspecialty training program designed to equip surgeons from LMIC with the state-of-the-art surgical skills and equipment to most effectively manage common neurosurgical conditions of childhood. Read More
Neurosurg Focus 2018 Oct;45(4):E20
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama.
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the greatest causes of childhood mortality and disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Global prevalence at birth is approximately 18.6 per 10,000 live births, with more than 300,000 infants with NTDs born every year. Read More
Neurosurg Focus 2018 Oct;45(4):E9
Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University.
Objective: Children with neural tube defects (NTDs) require timely surgical intervention coupled with long-term management by multiple highly trained specialty healthcare teams. In resource-limited settings, outcomes are greatly affected by the lack of coordinated care. The purpose of this study was to characterize outcomes of spina bifida patients treated at Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH) through follow-up phone surveys. Read More
World Neurosurg 2018 Sep 27. Epub 2018 Sep 27.
Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, St Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Background: Neural tube defects are a large health burden for East African countries. Health strategies in the prevention of this disease include nutritional prophylaxis, prenatal diagnosis, and availability of early neonatal neurosurgery. The main objective of this study is to describe our experience in the early surgical management of neural tube defects in the Zanzibar archipelago. Read More
World Neurosurg 2018 Sep 25. Epub 2018 Sep 25.
Department of Neurological Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon. Electronic address:
Background: Myelomeningocele patients with shunt-dependent hydrocephalus often require multiple shunt revisions, eventually exhausting first-line distal diversion sites. Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunts are used less commonly than ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts, but knowledge of their use and complications is important to the neurosurgeon's armamentarium. VA shunts differ from VP and ventriculopleural shunts in that the ideal distal catheter target is an anatomically small area in comparison to the peritoneal and pleural cavities. Read More
J Neurosurg Sci 2018 Sep 25. Epub 2018 Sep 25.
Unit of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Background: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a congenital malformation that results from a failure in the process of neurulation. A multidisciplinary follow up is required to manage and treat all associated sequelae. The aim of the study is to present the epidemiological data and the results of the multidisciplinary follow-up of children born in Slovenia with myelomeningocele (MMC) between 2007 and 2017. Read More