Spina bifida aperta in southern Iran, 15 years experience

Background: Spina bifida aperta is a lesion that communicates with the external environment; and includes meningomyelocele and meningocele. We investigated all clinical presentations in meningomyelocele and meningocele patients in Shiraz, southern Iran. Methods: Patients’ files of spina bifida aperta who were admitted from 1989 through 2005 to Nemazee Hospital were reviewed for meningomyelocele and meningocele in Shiraz, southern Iran. CSF shunting by ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was also performed. Results: Out of 580000 patients, 100 cases of spina bifida aperta were registered. In 67 patients with meningomyelocele and 33 with meningocele with male and lumbar and lumbosacral areas predominance, cystic mass was more common. 35% of patients showed congenital anomalies including talipes equinovarus and congenital hip dislocation that were more in meningomyelocele patients. 10% of the patients were operated in the first 72 hours and the others 1 month to 1 year after birth. CSF shunt insertion was more in meningomyelocele patients. Among meningomyelocele patients, mortality occurred in 3 patients (meningitis in 2 and post-operative pneumonia in one case). Conclusion: It seems that water-thigh dural closure and use of dural patch could decrease the rate of postoperative CSF leakage. Our results resembled the pattern in other series, except the low prevalence of hydrocephalus and a male predominance. Earlier referral of spina bifida aperta patients should be encouraged, because it could lower the complications and lead to better outcomes.