Prenatal course and outcome in 103 cases of fetal spina bifida: a single center experience

To investigate the prenatal course and functional outcome for fetuses with spina bifida according to the level of the spinal lesion at prenatal ultrasound examination.

Retrospective, descriptive study.

Tertiary referral center, Germany.

A total of 103 fetuses with spina bifida identified between 1993 and 2008.

The antenatal course and postnatal outcome for affected fetuses were reviewed. The relation of relevant outcome domains to the anatomical level was assessed using Fisher's exact test and the χ(2)-test.

Level and type of spinal lesion, pregnancy outcome, psychomotor development, bladder and bowel function.

Our cohort included a total of 31 live born infants, 68 terminated pregnancies, four intrauterine fetal deaths and five postnatal deaths. Four cases were excluded from follow-up. Twenty of the remaining 22 infants had normal or only slightly impaired mental development (91%). Thirteen children (59%) were able to walk, but nine (41%) needed wheelchairs or were paraplegic. The rate of poor motor outcome varied strongly in dependence on the level of the lesion (22.2% at lower lumbosacral levels to 80% at thoracic level). The majority of the affected children (16/22, 72.7%) suffered from impairment of bladder function. In 36% of cases (8/22) anal incontinence was documented.

Spina bifida can result in a spectrum of disabilities that frequently lead to an impairment of bladder, bowel and motor function. The motor function depended on level of the lesion.