Given that NTDs occur due to congenital nerve degeneration, its treatment options are limited similar to lots of other neurological disorders. Current treatment options for spina bifida include (1, 3):

–        Surgery: Currently, early surgery (within 48 hours of birth) is the main treatment option, and even then its only aim is to close the anatomical skin defect present due to spina bifida, in order to prevent the risk of infection (ex. meningitis). However, surgery doesn’t correct the actual neurological deficit present since it has already occurred during pregnancy.

–        Fetal Surgical Intervention: Some trials have tested the benefits of intervening and correcting spina bifida during pregnancy – before permanent neurological damage. These trials reported clinical benefits, yet the long-term efficacy and safety of such techniques still need to be studied further before becoming the standard of care due to the high risk of complications to both the mother and the fetus.

–        Supportive Treatments: These include treatments aiming to improve the quality of life of people with spina bifida. Some examples include physiotherapy, nutritional therapy, medications to improve bladder and bowel function, social therapy, and surgical correction of associated bone deformities.