2010/12/01 by R.J. Verbeek, Axel Heep, Natasha M. Maurits +4 · 2 citations
Medicine · Neuroscience · #Spinal Dysraphism and Malformations #Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus #Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders
paper · pdf · doi:10.1186/1743-8454-7-s1-s18
openalex publication_date 2010/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/11
Background Spina bifida aperta (SBA) is associated with shuntdependent hydrocephalus and with meningomyelocele (MMC). Fetal endoscopic closure of the MMC may reduce shunt-dependency, but the benefit upon motor function in individual patients is still unclear. An increase in differentiated muscle ultrasound density (dMUD) provides an objective parameter for the extent of muscle damage caudal to the MMC. In this perspective, we aimed to compare dMUD and neurological function between SBA children treated by fetal endoscopic closure (fSBA) and by neonatal closure (nSBA) of the MMC.