Spine Surgery on a 42 Day Old Baby at NH Barasat

Neural tube defect (NTD) is a condition that involves a faulty development of the neural tube. This happens during the formation of the embryo. When the neural tube does not close completely, an NTD occurs. And when this spinal defect is covered with skin, it’s called a closed NTD or a Lipomyelomeningocele.

A Lipomyelomeningocele is an abnormal fatty mass that grows inwards to the spinal cord. This condition occurs in the early human life, i.e. infants or when the mother is in her third week of pregnancy. With over 3,00,000 births each year worldwide, NTDs are one of the most common birth defects.

In the medical world, spinal surgery is the only treatment option for cure and is considered to be a high risk. This is because of the numerous complicated issues associated with the surgery such as the leakage of the spinal fluid, meningitis, nerve injury, and lower limb weakness or urinary/stool incontinence.

A 42-day year old baby was diagnosed with this disease. Baby Iliana Afroza, from Burdwan district of West Bengal, was found to have Lipomyelomeningocele during her mother’s 36^th week of pregnancy. The worried parents brought the infant to NH Barasat, in the hope of receiving specialized consultation and treatment. They weren’t disappointed. The doctors at Narayana Health, with their vast experience and in-depth knowledge, assured the parents of Iliana’s safety.

Dr. Safi Ikbal Siddique, a consultant neurosurgeon at Narayana Health, performed the surgery. The baby was administered general anesthesia that lasted for nearly three hours. During the surgery, the growth on the spinal cord was removed and the Neural Tube was rectified; medically known as excision of Lipomyelomeningocele.

Post-surgery, the baby experienced a speedy recovery and is keeping good health, displaying the medical expertise of the doctors at Narayana Health.s