Postnatal surgery for myelomeningocele in neonates: neurodevelopmental outcomes

BACKGROUND/AIM: The study aims to evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes of neonates with myelomeningocele (MMC) operated in the postnatal period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective follow-up study in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. Neurodevelopmental outcomes of term neonates operated for MMC and healthy term newborns were compared with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (BSID III) at 12–18 months. RESULTS: A total of 57 cases were included in the study (patient group = 27; control group = 30). Demographic data between the groups were similar. Cognitive, linguistic, and motor composite scores of the patient group were lower than those of the control group (p < 0.001). In the patient group, those who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt had lower cognitive, language and motor scores than those without shunt (p < 0.05). The cognitive, linguistic, and motor composite scores in the patient group who underwent surgery before 72 h were better than those who underwent surgery after 72 h. CONCLUSION: In our study, it was found that the neurodevelopmental prognosis of MMC cases requiring ventriculoperitoneal shunt in the postnatal period was significantly worse than those without shunt. It is the first study in which the neurodevelopment of patients with MMC who were operated in the postnatal period was evaluated with BSID III evaluated and delays in all areas were shown in cases with MMC compared to normal cases. Better neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients operated in the first 72 h suggest that early surgery will improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with MMC.