The Reality of the Management of Spinal Dysraphism in a Country in a Precarious Situation: A Retrospective Study

Background: To report the epidemiological, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of spinal dysraphism, with emphasis on the difficulties encountered during management in Madagascar. Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive, multicenter study in the 7 neurosurgical centers of Madagascar over 5 years on children operated on for spinal dysraphism. Results: We collected 50 cases over 5 years. The mean age was 16.95 ± 33.94 months. Girls predominated (sex ratio = 0.85). The absence of folic acid supplementation in the mother was found in 62%. In all cases, the diagnosis was made in the postnatal period. Myelomeningocele is the most frequent form. Hydrocephalus was found in 20% of cases, orthopaedic malformation in 20%, and Chiari type II malformation in 2%. The dysraphism was localized at the lumbar level in 50% of cases. A spinal CT scan was performed in 62% of cases and transfontanellar ultrasound in 22% of cases. No magnetic resonance imaging of the brain or spinal cord was performed. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed in 8% of cases. Postoperative hydrocephalus was 4%and mortality was 1% due to meningitis. The average follow-up time was 3 months with an extreme of 3 months to 3 years. Conclusion: In spite of the difficulties in the management of these children and the technical platform available in the country, they are operated correctly and the hospital mortality is low.