Spina Bifida: operated in utero, a baby can stir the legs without problem

A little boy underwent complex back surgery when he was still in utero -the uterus was however withdrawn from the mother’s body during the operation.

Essential

At 20 weeks of pregnancy, Serena learned that her baby was suffering from a spina bifida.
In order to increase his chances of walking, he underwent an intervention on the back when he was still in his mother’s uterus.
Born at 31 weeks of pregnancy, the little boy called Tommy stir his legs without difficulty.

At birth, little Tommy stirred his legs without difficulty. If these gestures may seem very harmless for a newborn baby, this is a feat. The little boy underwent complex back surgery when he was still in his mom’s uterus.

His parents Serena Nye and Chris Brown confided in this incredible in utero operation in the British media.

The uterus removed from the body during the operation

While Serena was 20 weeks pregnant, she learned during an ultrasound that her baby suffers from a Spina Bifida. This is a defect in closing the spine that could lead to legs paralysis. “We heard all these stories – we thought it would never work or never eat alone”recalls his mother in the review The Argus.

The doctors then proposed several options to the couple: continue the pregnancy without intervening, interrupting it or performing fetal surgery. They opted for the operation.

“Before the procedure, I was very nervous. We knew there were risks, but the positive aspects were more important, says Serena. If we could give him the chance not to need a shunt (device allowing the circulation of a liquid like blood, editor’s note) or to be able to walk, why would we not do it? “

The operation was scheduled while the young woman was 26 weeks pregnant. The doctors withdrew the uterus from the woman’s body in order to be able to carry out the operation on the spine of the fetus. After three hours of intervention, the uterus and the baby were placed in the mother’s body.

“We had no idea what he would be capable of at birth, even if he showed encouraging signs during pregnancy.”

“He was very small, but his legs moved!”

Doctors hoped that pregnancy could continue at least up to 36^e week, but work started earlier. Tommy was born on September 21, 2024 by Cesarean at 31 weeks of pregnancy, or 7 months.

The 1.78 kilograms little boy was supported by the neonatality service for four weeks. “”I saw him in the incubator, he was very small, but his legs moved “recalls the young mother. She adds afterSWNS agency :: “After weeks spent in neonatal intensive care, it was an immense relief to bring him home with his scar in the back, as a crazy reminder of what had happened.”

Now aged 4 and a half, Tommy is doing well, he moves and eats without difficulty. “The next steps are to wait for him to crawl and see how he moves, but we will take up each challenge with strength and determination”assures the Briton.

“If we had not practiced the operation while I was pregnant, it would have been born in point and should have undergone many interventions after birth, she continues. Today, no one can believe how well it is. “