فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Spina bifida aperta is a lesion that communicates with the external environment; and includesmeningomyelocele and meningocele. We investigated all clinical presentations in meningomyelocele and meningocelepatients in Shiraz, southern Iran.Methods: Patients’ files of spina bifida aperta who were admitted from 1989 through 2005 to Nemazee Hospitalwere 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 meningomyeloceleand 33 with meningocele with male and lumbar and lumbosacral areas predominance, cystic masswas more common. 35% of patients showed congenital anomalies including talipes equinovarus and congenitalhip dislocation that were more in meningomyelocele patients. 10% of the patients were operated in the first 72hours 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 pneumoniain one case).Conclusion: It seems that water-thigh dural closure and use of dural patch could decrease the rate of postoperativeCSF leakage. Our results resembled the pattern in other series, except the low prevalence of hydrocephalusand a male predominance. Earlier referral of spina bifida aperta patients should be encouraged, becauseit could lower the complications and lead to better outcomes.