Cerebrospinal Fluid Research · 2010 · 85 citations · 0 references
MedicineNeurologyPediatricsMotor DevelopmentPediatric NeurologyPediatric NeurosurgeryFetal SurgerySpina BifidaHydrocephalus Shunt ManagementMuscle DamageMuscle DensityNeurologic DeficitsNeurologic FunctionNeurological FunctionUltrasound Muscle ImagingUltrasound-based Muscle Assessment
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.