BACKGROUND: To compare the Ramirez technique for the operative closure of large open @entity9960 with conventional closure techniques in newborns. We hypothesized that the immediate surgical treatment with the Ramirez technique is superior to prior used operative techniques. METHODS: From 2003 to 2010, 23 @entity1 (8 female, 15 male) underwent closure of large open @entity9960 using the Ramirez technique (group A), while from 1993 to 2002, 23 @entity1 (6 female, 17 male) underwent conventional closure techniques (group B). All @entity1 were included in the retrospective analysis with a mean follow-up period of 3.4 years. RESULTS: Perioperative variables were similar in both groups (P  =  ns). There were no hospital deaths in both groups. The operation time was significantly higher in group A (228.7      76.8 versus 157.8      70.3  min, P  =  0.003). Mean length of hospital stay was significantly lower in group A (30.7      16.4 days versus 52.0      38.5; P  =  0.02). @entity260 rate was significantly lower in group A (P  =  0.01). Beyond postoperative day 10, liquor fluid leakage was significantly lower in group A (P  =  0.05). During follow-up, there were no complications in group A. In group B, 2 @entity1 developed liquor @entity292 . CONCLUSIONS: The Ramirez technique allows efficient and safe closure of large open @entity9960 and reduces incidence of postoperative liquor fistulae. The increased operation time and surgical efforts seem to be justified. Treatment of large @entity9960 requires an interdisciplinary team including paediatrician-neonatologists, neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons.

Comparison of the Ramirez technique for the closure of large open XXXX with alternative methods.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity292 :: ('MESH:D005402', 'Disease') :: ['fistulas'] @entity260 :: ('MESH:D011183', 'Disease') :: ['Postoperative complication'] @entity9960 :: ('MESH:D008591', 'Disease') :: ['myelomeningocele defects']
@entity9960 :: (MESH:D008591,Disease) :: ['myelomeningocele defects']
