Spina bifida is a birth defect in which an area of the spinal column doesn’t form properly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed through an opening in the back. It is the most common birth defect of the central nervous system, affecting about 1,500 babies born each year in the United States. The two main spina bifida treatment options are fetal surgery during pregnancy or surgery on the baby right after birth.
Mothers carrying babies diagnosed with spina bifida need to know they are getting the most accurate information from an experienced, caring team. Since 1995, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment has been at the forefront of understanding, diagnosing and treating myelomeningocele (MMC), the most severe form of spina bifida, before birth.
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