Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Myelomeningocele

Myelomeningocele is the most severe common form of spina bifida, a birth defect in which the spinal column fails to close completely during fetal development. As a result, the spinal cord and its surrounding membranes protrude through an opening in the back, leaving neural tissue exposed. This can cause neurological…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 2 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 10× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2997-2086 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Myelomeningocele is the most severe common form of spina bifida, a birth defect in which the spinal column fails to close completely during fetal development. As a result, the spinal cord and its surrounding membranes protrude through an opening in the back, leaving neural tissue exposed. This can cause neurological deficits below the level of the lesion, and it is frequently associated with hydrocephalus and a range of physical disabilities affecting movement and bladder and bowel function. Within Fetal Surgery, myelomeningocele is a defining condition, because repairing the defect before birth has become an important option alongside surgery after delivery. Prenatal closure aims to protect the exposed spinal cord and limit the progression of neurological damage during the remainder of pregnancy. Research tracing the evolution of Fetal Surgery situates myelomeningocele repair within the broader development of techniques for operating on the fetus, reflecting how advances in diagnosis and surgical approach have expanded what can be addressed before birth. As a field, Fetal Surgery treats myelomeningocele as a central example of intervening early to improve long-term outcomes. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to myelomeningocele and its prenatal and postnatal management.

Research published in this journal

2 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2017

The Evolution of Fetal Surgery

Knezevich MichelleCorresponding author
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
Exact topic Fetal Surgery doi:10.14302/issn.2997-2086.jfs-17-1663

How this research is being cited

The 2 articles above have been cited 10 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Myelomeningocele, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Fetal Surgery (ISSN 2997-2086).

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.