A team of neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons at the Osmania General Hospital on Monday pooled their skills and knowledge to carry out a rare surgery on a 10-month child ailing with a birth defect called Myelomeningocoel or herniation of meninges and nerves.
“It required a five-hour surgery to remove the abnormal growth in the spine of the 10-month old girl. While the neurosurgery team handled the neural and spinal tissue, the plastic surgery team ensured that the muscle and skin tissue were aligned properly,” said Dr. Palukuri Lakshmi. The neurosurgery team was led by Dr. Sreedharala Srinivas.
The neural tube defect occurs when bones of the spine do not completely form due to low levels of folic acid before and during pregnancy. This results in an incomplete spinal canal. The spinal cord and meninges (tissue over spinal cord) stick out of the child’s back.
“This can be prevented if women take folic acid tablets thrice a day, six months before becoming pregnant,” said Dr. Lakshmi.
The surgery was carried out under Arogyasri scheme.