Introduction Meningomyelocele (MMC), a form of spina bifida, is the most common congenital anomaly of the central nervous system. It occurs in the first four weeks of pregnancy when the neural tube of the embryo fails to close. Neural tube defects may result in hydrocephalus, hindbrain herniation, and exposure to toxins in the amniotic fluid, with potential morbidity and mortality (1). Both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the etiology of MMC. The risk of MMC is increasing in the events of maternal exposure to valproate, alcohol, carbamazepine, or isotretinoin; high fever; malnutrition, especially folate or B12 deficiency, diabetes mellitus, or obesity during pregnancy (2). About 1,427 babies are born with spina bifida each year in the United States (1 in 2,758 births). Lower socioeconomic status and older maternal age are associated with higher neural tube defect incidence. The recurrence rate in subsequent pregnancies is about 2% to 3% (3). More than 80% of babies born with MMC require a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus decompression (4). In 39% of the patients, functional motor deficits are at the affected level or higher, and more than half of these have functional motor deficits two levels higher than the affected level (5). The purpose of early closure of MMC defects is to preserve neural tissue function and prevent sepsis.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentration of human platelets obtained from venous blood through proper centrifugation. It contains several growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived factor 4 (PF-4), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b) (6). There are approximately 150-400 10³/mm³ platelets in the blood and PRP contains between four and seven times this amount (7). When whole blood is collected from a patient for the generation of PRP, an anticoagulant is added. This usually contains citrate and disrupts the coagulation cascade by binding to calcium ions (8). PRP is used in orthopedic indications, wound healing, facial rejuvenation, hair restoration, and other conditions in which tissue renewal is central. The use of PRP for surgical and non-surgical wounds is advantageous, especially in patients with poor wound healing, poor blood supply, and slow cell turnover, and in cases where rapid healing is required.

In this study, we assessed whether the administration of PRP during the MMC pouch repair procedure can improve infant outcomes. This was measured by its ability to reduce CSF leakage, meningitis, local infection, skin necrosis, wound dehiscence, and hydrocephalus, and to accelerate the healing of the underdeveloped pouch tissue. These outcomes were compared with those of an MMC control group who did not receive PRP during surgery.

Materials and Methods This study included 40 infants with a diagnosis of MMC who were operated on at our neurosurgery clinic between February 2020 and May 2021. PRP was administered to 20 of the patients and 20 were followed up without PRP. All babies were born at term and fed with breast milk. All infants in the study were followed up in the neonatal intensive care unit. The mean birth weight was 2990 grams. In the PRP group, 10 of the 20 patients underwent primary defect repair and 10 underwent flap repair. In the non-PRP group, 14 patients underwent primary closure and six underwent flap closure. All operations were performed under general anesthesia. Blood was taken from each patient and the platelets were separated by centrifugation at 3200 rpm for five min in a 2 cc whole blood centrifuge device. The plasma was separated with the buffy coat layer. During MMC sac repair, a neural plate was formed and the dura was then made using opposing flaps from the fascia. After hemostasis was achieved, the defect was repaired and PRP was applied from the wound edge. The prepared PRP was applied to the dura and pouch repair and under the skin flap wound line.

Descriptive statistics were expressed as means, standard deviations, medians, ranges, frequencies, and ratios. The distribution of variables was measured with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Independent sample t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for the analysis of quantitative independent data. Chi-square tests were used in the analysis of qualitative independent data, and the Fischer test was used when the chi-square test conditions were not met. Analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0 software.