The first child from Finland to undergo foetal surgery for spina bifida correction was born at Oulu University Hospital (OYS) in February.
According to Minna Virranniemi, a perinatologist at OYS' Children and Women's Centre, the child is doing well.
"After birth, the child has been monitored by a pediatric neurologist and neurosurgeon, but no additional support has been needed," Virranniemi said in a statement.
For the foetal procedure, the expectant mother is anaesthetised, and the abdominal wall and uterus are opened. The surgery performed on the foetus is identical to one performed after birth.
Following the surgery, close monitoring continues at Oulu University Hospital's foetal research unit, as the procedure slightly increases the risk of premature birth. Studies show that delivery typically occurs around the 34th week of pregnancy.
Improved quality of life for unborn babies
Spina bifida is typically detected during the mid-pregnancy ultrasound screening. It is a congenital structural abnormality — the most common defect of neural tube closure — affecting approximately five out of every 10,000 live births.
The condition can have varying impacts on the child’s mobility, bowel and bladder function, and cerebrospinal fluid circulation among other things.
Recent research shows that foetal surgery can lead to better outcomes. Children who undergo foetal surgery are more likely to walk by the age of 2.5 years and less likely to need a shunt to assist with cerebrospinal fluid circulation.
Access to this treatment requires meeting strict surgical criteria, such as the pregnancy being no later than 26 weeks.
In Finland, cases suitable for foetal surgery to correct spina bifida are rare. As a result, the procedure is not performed in Finland but at the internationally recognised fetal surgery centre at UZ Leuven University Hospital in Belgium. Families are provided with remote counselling with a foetal surgeon before the actual treatment, and close follow-up continues at the OYS foetal research unit after the procedure.