What do you cover a myelomeningocele with?

The family can hold the infant in the prone position, provided the sac is protected. 6. Leave dressing in place over sac until the neurosurgeon examines the infant. Thereafter, maintain a saline soaked dressing covering the sac using moist, sterile wet telfa (no betadine).

How do you care for myelomeningocele?

Treatments can include:

1. a shunt for hydrocephalus (the shunt drains the spinal fluid into the belly so it doesn’t build up)
2. leg braces to help walking.
3. a wheelchair.
4. a tube (called a catheter) to help empty the bladder.
5. surgery on the spine or legs.
6. surgery for Chiari malformations.
7. physical therapy (PT)

What are the nursing actions for a baby with myelomeningocele?

Nursing Interventions

• Prevent infection.
• Promote skin integrity.
• Prevent contractures of lower extremities.
• Proper positioning of the newborn.
• Promote family coping.
• Provide family teaching.

When should I take myelomeningocele?

Myelomeningocele repair, also known as fetal spina bifida repair, is a surgery to close the spinal defect during pregnancy. It is typically performed between 19 and 26 weeks gestation. There are various techniques for fetal spina bifida repair.

Should a myelomeningocele be covered?

Myelomeningocele is the most common form of the spina bifida, in which the spinal cord and the tissue around the cord (meninges) protrude from the baby’s back and are contained in a fluid filled sac. There is no skin covering the defect.

Can someone with myelomeningocele walk?

People affected by spina bifida get around in different ways. These include walking without any aids or assistance; walking with braces, crutches or walkers; and using wheelchairs. People with spina bifida higher on the spine (near the head) might have paralyzed legs and use wheelchairs.

What is the rationale for doing a cesarean delivery for babies with myelomeningocele?

You may need to have a cesarean section to deliver your baby. This is often done to lower the risk for damage to the spinal cord that may occur during a vaginal delivery. Babies born with a meningocele or a myelomeningocele usually need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Can a baby with myelomeningocele walk?

Background and Purpose: Infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) have difficulty with, and show delays in, acquiring functional skills, such as walking. This study examined whether infants with MMC will respond to treadmill practice by producing stepping patterns or at least motor activity during the first year after birth.

Can myelomeningocele be closed?

Myelomeningocele is the most severe form of spina bifida. A portion of the spinal cord or nerves is exposed in a sac through an opening in the spine that may or may not be covered by the meninges. The opening can be closed by surgeons while the baby is in utero or shortly after the baby is born.

Can a child with myelomeningocele walk?

When does myelomeningocele occur in a fetus?

Myelomeningocele is a defect of the spine, and of the passage inside the spine called the spinal canal. It can occur at any point along the spine. During early fetal development, the spine comes together like a zipper covering the spinal cord and nerves.

Where can I go to get help for myelomeningocele?

As children with myelomeningocele grow, we offer seamless transition to our multi-disciplinary Spina Bifida Clinic, led by one of the nation’s top pediatric neurosurgery programs according to U.S. News & World Report .

What is the aim of surgery for myelomeningocele?

The aim of surgery at this stage is to put the spinal cord back into the spinal canal and repair the defect in the back so that the area is covered with normal, healthy skin. Before surgery, the affected area is covered with a dressing and the baby will be nursed on their front.

How often does myelomeningocele occur in the UK?

The reported overall incidence of myelomeningocele in the British Isles is 2-3.5 cases per 1000 live births. In France, Norway, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Japan, a low prevalence is reported, being just 0.1-0.6 cases per 1000 live births.