Prognosis of Spina Bifida in the Era of Prenatal Diagnosis and Termination of Pregnancy

Objective: To evaluate the current outcome of a selected prenatally diagnosed spina bifida group. Materials and Methods: We analyzed and followed up 74 cases of prenatally diagnosed spina bifida. Results: Termination of pregnancy was chosen in 72% of the cases and 28% were live-born. Chromosomal defects were identified in 16%, although only 1.6% in isolated cases. Of the 21 live births, 3 died in the neonatal period. The other 18 (86%) were all alive after an average follow-up of 3 years and 6 months (range 5 months to 7 years and 4 months). From this group 11% are wheel-chair-dependent, 87% of the patients older than 2 years of age are walking, 33% have had cerebral shunting and 72% have normal neurodevelopment. There was a better outcome in patients with closed defects; however, the rates of neuropathic bladder (50%) remain a concern. Conclusions: Even with prenatal diagnosis and a tendency towards apparently less severe defects in the cases in which the pregnancies continue, the prognosis in terms of morbidity needs to remain guarded. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel