Meningocele repair

Definition

Meningocele repair (also known as myelomeningocele repair) is surgery to repair birth defects of the spine and spinal membranes. Meningocele and myelomeningocele are types of spina bifida.

Alternative Names

Myelomeningocele repair; Myelomeningocele closure; Myelodysplasia repair; Spinal dysraphism repair; Meningomyelocele repair; Neural tube defect repair; Spina bifida repair

Description

For both meningoceles and myelomeningoceles, the surgeon will close the opening in the back.

After birth, the defect is covered by a sterile dressing. Your child may then be transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and cared for by a medical team experienced in caring for children with spina bifida.

Your baby will likely have an MRI (magnetic resonance imagining) or ultrasound of the back. An MRI or ultrasound of the brain may be done to look for hydrocephalus (extra fluid in the brain).

If the myelomeningocele is not covered by skin or a membrane when your child is born, surgery will happen within 24 to 48 hours after birth to prevent infection.

If your child has hydrocephalus, the doctor may put a shunt (plastic tube) in their brain to drain the extra fluid to the stomach. This prevents pressure that could damage the baby's brain. See also: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Your child should not be exposed to latex before, during, and after surgery. Many of these children have very bad allergies to latex.

Risks

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• Breathing problems
• Reactions to medications

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Risks for this surgery are:

• Fluid build up and pressure in the brain (hydrocephalus)
• Increased chance of urinary tract infection and bowel problems
• Infection or inflammation of the spinal cord
• Paralysis, weakness, or sensation changes due to loss of nerve function