Hindbrain herniation develops in surgically created myelomeningocele but is absent after repair in fetal lambs.

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to determine whether prenatal repair of myelomeningocele prevents or reverses hindbrain herniation in the sheep model. A myelomeningocele was surgically created in fetal sheep. One group was repaired later in utero; the others were delivered without repair. After delivery, lambs were assessed for the presence of hindbrain herniation. In all lambs that had not undergone repair of the myelomeningocele, severe hindbrain herniation developed, whereas the brains of all lambs that had undergone fetal repair were normal. Prenatal repair of myelomeningocele prevents or reverses development of hindbrain herniation in the fetal lamb model.