A new treatment that allows surgeons to treat spina bifida prior to birth using scopes has been approved by the FDA, reports The Post Bulletin.
It has been labeled as fetoscopic surgery for the treatment of spina bifida and improves outcomes for both baby and mother using minimally invasive techniques.
This treatment usually allows the mother to deliver vaginally with her home care team and improves the likelihood of delivering the baby at term.
Prenatal spina bifida surgery increases the chance that the baby will walk while lowering the risk of hydrocephalus-related outcomes and the development of Chiari malformation.
Standard spina bifida treatment involves surgery after birth. By going through the uterus, surgeons can fix the condition during the second trimester; however procedure risks include uterine rupture, cesarean birth and premature labor.