Comparison of results of prenatal and postnatal correction of open neural tube defects in Slovakia

Czech version

Authors: M. Kohútková ^1,2; S. Trnovec ¹; J. Babala ^2,3; F. Horn ^1,2
Authors‘ workplace: Oddelenie detskej neurochirurgie Národného ústavu detských chorôb v Bratislave, Slovensko ¹; Lekárska fakulta Univerzity Komenského, Slovensko ²; Klinika detskej chirurgie Lekárskej fakulty Univerzity Komenského a Národného ústavu detských chorôb v Bratislave, Slovensko ³
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2026; 89(1): 38-42
Category: Original Paper
doi: https://doi.org/10.48095/cccsnn202638

Overview

Objective: The study compares the health status of pediatric patients after prenatal and postnatal surgical treatment of open neural tube defects in order to determine the success of the above approaches in the treatment of patients. Methods: The retrospective study analyzes the health status of 12 prenatally and 17 postnatally operated patients between 2016 and 2024. Fetal procedures were performed at the Spina Bifida Center at the Children’s Hospital in Zürich, Switzerland, and postnatal surgeries were performed at National Institute of Children´s Diseases in Bratislava, Slovakia. Results: We recorded the following values in prenatally and postnatally operated patients –⁠ the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus was 33.33% and 47.06%; psychomotor development was slowed down in 25% and 23.53%; 41.67% and 52.94% were able to walk independently, or walk independently with orthopedic aids; neurogenic bladder was present in 66.67% and 58.88%; and neurogenic obstipation was found in 41.67% and 41.18% of patients, respectively. Arnold-Chiari malformation type II occured in 91.67% of patients after prenatal surgery and in 100% of patients after postnatal surgery. Conclusion: We consider prenatal correction of open neural tube defects to be effective and beneficial due to the lower rate of need for surgical interventions for hydrocephalus and the lower number of children whose mobility depends on another person or a wheelchair.

Keywords:

hydrocephalus – ventriculoperitoneal shunt – fetal surgery – meningomyelocele – endoscopic third ventriculostomy – Arnold- -Chiari malformation type II

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