Background and objectives Meningomyelocele (MMC) is a congenital malformation characterised by the herniation of a part of the spinal cord with surrounding meningeal structures as a sac through an open spinal canal. In this study we aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical features of MMC cases followed in our neonatal intensive care unit, to investigate the accompanying congenital malformations and the effects of operation timing on mortality and morbidity.

Methods Patients between January 2009 and January 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were analysed according demographic features, additional malformations, operation timing and the ratio of an additionally ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement because of concomitant hydrocephaly. The effects of operation timing on mortality, complications and the lenght of hospital stay were investigated.

Results 263 patients were included in this study 152 male (57.8%), 111 female (42.2%). The ratio of prenatal diagnosis was 77.2% and the paternal consanguinity ratio was 51.3%. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting was performed to 72.6% of the patients after the MMC surgery. The lenght of hospital stay, total period of antibiotic use and the mortality ratio were significantly lower in the cases among whom the operation time was less than three days (p values are 0.006, 0.014, 0.004 respectively).

Conclusions The ratio of births with MMC is higher in our city when compared with another countries and the high ratio of paternal consanguinity imight be responsible for this difference and. The mortality and rate of complications can be decreased by early performing of MMC surgery.