Improvement of motor function and decreased need for postnatal shunting in children who had undergone intrauterine myelomeningocele repair

Abstract

Objective: To compare neuromotor development between patients who did and those who did not undergo intrauterine myelomeningocele repair. Methods: Children with myelomeningocele aged between 3.5 and 6 years who did undergo intrauterine repair (Group A, n=6) or not (Group B; n=7) were assessed for neuromotor development at both anatomical and functional levels, need for orthoses, and cognitive function. Results: Intrauterine myelomeningocele repair significantly improved motor function. The functional level was higher than the anatomical level by 2 or more spinal segments in all children in Group A and 2 children in Group B, with a significant statistical difference between groups (p<0.05). Five children in Group A and one in Group B were community ambulators. Conclusion: Despite the small sample, it was observed that an improvement of motor function and decreased need for postnatal shunting in the 6 children who had undergone intrauterine myelomeningocele repair.