A new study shows promise for unborn spina bifida patients. Research published in the New England Journal of medicine selected 160 unborn babies that had spina bifida. Half were selected to undergo prenatal surgery and half were treated after birth.
Those treated prenatally had better motor functions in their legs, more normally positioned brain stems, and fewer ended up needing the aid of orthotics to walk as toddlers. The babies also had better brain development than those who were treated after birth.
Researchers hope doctors will be able to use this discovery to correct other problems prenatally. Heart defects, bladder blockages and bone marrow or stem cell transplants might be corrected before birth.
Doctors hope that correcting some of these problems while the fetus is still developing will help them to heal more thoroughly and have fewer long term problems associated with birth defects.
Spina bifida is a birth defect that affects the spinal cord. Children born with this disorder are more likely to require surgery, have permanent brain damage and have trouble walking.
While results of the study were very encouraging, the risks associated with the surgery are high. Researchers warned that the risks to the unborn child should be weighed with the benefits of any surgery. A higher incidence of premature births was associated with the surgery. Also, many of the mothers had to have cesarean sections in subsequent births due to the incision.
Previous research has indicated that spina bifida might be avoided by giving mothers folic acid before conception. Studies have shown that if the mother has enough folic acid in her body when she conceives a child, the chance of her infant having spina bifida is virtually eliminated. Folic acid can be found in green vegetables and in some over-the –counter vitamin supplements.