Neural tube defects at prince Rashid bin al-Hassan hospital

Abstract EN

Objectives : To determine the frequency of neural tube defects among patients who were delivered at Prince Rashid Bin Al-Hassan Military Hospital and to discuss possible ways to reduce them.

Methods : This descriptive review study of 11,852 medical records was conducted over a period of two years between the 1st of August 2005 and end of July 2007 at Prince Rashid Bin-Al-Hassan Military Hospital in Irbid-Jordan.

Results : During the study period, there were 17 cases of neural tube defects (1.4 / 1000 births), of these there were five cases of spina bifida (0.42 / 1000 births), three cases of encephalocele (0.25 / 1000 births), and nine cases of anencephaly (0.76 / 1000 births).

The overall female to male ratio was 1 : 0.89.

The most common neural tube defect was anencephaly (52.9%), and the commonest site of spina bifida was the lumbosacral region in 2 / 5 (40%).

One case of encephalocele was associated with malformations while four cases (80%) of spina bifida were associated with other malformations.

Conclusion : The frequency of neural tube defects is high and probably on the decreasing in Jordan.

We may be able to reduce such defects by recommending women of childbearing age to take daily Folic acid (400mcg) for at least three months before they become pregnant and throughout the first trimester.