Neural Tube Defects Treated in Tanzania and Kenia

Abstract

Here, the authors present their data on 25 infants suffering from neural tube defects in Africa. All infants were treated during five missions from German doctors in Kenya and Tanzania. A special focus is given to the duration of symptoms, health status, clinical examination technique, surgical technique, and follow-up. One mission took place in February 2017, on in February 2018, one in August 2019 in Zanzibar, Tanzania; one mission took place in August 2021 and one mission in February 2022 in Mombasa, Kenya. All patients treated during these missions were collected and retrospectively analyzed for presence of neural tube defect and associated hydrocephalus. A detailed presentation of the evaluation and surgical results with case examples is given.