Sajid Noor, Muhammad Nadeem Chohan, Asif Khan.
Neural tube defects (Open and Closed) among neonates at a tertiary care hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Rawal Med J Jan ;44(2):288-90.

Objective: To assess the frequency of neural tube defects (Open and Closed) among neonates at National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. Methodologt: This prospective observational study was carried out at National Institute of Child Health, Karachi from October 13, 2013 to April 12, 2014 and included 101 neonates. All were examined to check the open neural tube defects like anencephaly, meningocele, myelomeningocele and encephalocele and closed spinal cord defects (Occult spinal dysraphism) like midline pits, skin discoloration, lipoma, tuft of hairs and sinus tract. Results: Mean age was 10.6+-4.3 days with M:F ratio of 1:2.6. Out of 101 neonates, 6 (5.9%) had neural tube defects. One of these was boy while 5 were females. Myelomeningocele was most common form of neural tube defects found in 4 (66.6%) neonates, meningocele in one (16.7%) and encephalocele in one (16.7%) neonate. Closed spinal cord defect was not present in any neonate. Conclusion: Neural tube defect was found in 5.9% neonates. All had the open neural tube defects, myelomeningocele being the commonest. Neural tube defect was more common in female gender, in age <=10 days and in neonates with positive family history of neural tube defect.

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