Enhancing fetal spina bifida repair: do paraspinal myofascial flaps and acellular dermal patches improve postnatal outcomes? A retrospective cohort review

Key Points

• The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of acellular dermal patches and paraspinal myofascial flaps in fetal spina bifida repair.
• Retrospective cohort review of fetal spina bifida repairs
• Comparison of outcomes with and without acellular dermal patches
• Assessment of paraspinal myofascial flaps
• Analysis of complications like CSF diversion, PPROM, and preterm birth
• Acellular dermal patch use correlated with reduced need for CSF diversion at one year
• Paraspinal myofascial flaps showed a beneficial trend for similar outcomes
• Neither intervention increased risks for preterm premature rupture of membranes or preterm birth