For both meningoceles and myelomeningoceles, surgery consists of putting the spinal cord or nerve roots in their normal place and protecting them by closing the overlying meninges and skin.
A myelomeningocele should be closed within 24 hours of birth to prevent infection. A shunt is usually required to drain excess fluid. If the baby has fluid build-up in the brain, a shunt is usually put in when the myelomeningocele is repaired. Otherwise, most neurosurgeons wait about 3 days to place a shunt.
Currently there are centers attempting experimental in utero surgical repair of spina bifida (surgical repair of the defect while the fetus is still developing in the uterus).
Unfortunately, in poor countries the defect is not detected early due to inaccessibility to correct information on prenatal care and the unavailability of proper medical services, specially in far flung areas. But even if the defect is detected early, poor parents, particularly in developing countries, could not afford the high cost of surgery and other related medical expenses.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001558.htm
