Alternate Names : Myelomeningocele Closure, Myelomeningocele Repair, Spina Bifida Repair

Definition

A meningocele is a protrusion of cerebrospinal fluid and meninges (covering layers of the spinal cord and brain) into the tissues beneath the skin. Meningocele repair is a surgical procedure to drain the cerebrospinal fluid and repair and close birth defects of the spine and spinal membranes. It is used to treat the conditions listed below:

• Spina bifida: a birth defect which involves an abnormal opening of the spinal area.
• Spina bifida occulta: the congenital absence of spinal bones with no exposure of the internal structures such as meninges or neural tissue.
• Meningocele: a congenital defect in the bony structures with distension (swelling) of the meninges, but no abnormality of neural tissue.
• Myelomeningocele: a congenital defect in the bones of the spine with distention of the meninges and structural or functional abnormality of the spinal cord or nerve roots.