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Dell Children’s reports first Central Texas prenatal repair for severe spina bifida
Dell Children’s Medical Center says its fetal care team has completed Central Texas’ first in-utero operation to treat myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida. The hospital says repairing the defect before birth may help preserve motor function and reduce complications.
Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin has completed Central Texas’ first in-utero surgery to treat myelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida, the hospital announced Oct. 15, 2026.
The procedure was led by Alireza Shamshirsaz, a physician with the hospital’s Comprehensive Fetal Care Center. The hospital did not disclose when the operation took place or provide details about the patient or outcome.
Myelomeningocele occurs when the spinal canal does not close completely during pregnancy. Dell Children’s said repairing the defect before birth can help preserve motor function and reduce the risk of complications, including Chiari II malformation and the need for a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, a device used to drain fluid from the brain.
The hospital said diagnosis typically involves second-trimester ultrasound and fetal MRI, after which clinicians develop an individualized care plan. Shamshirsaz said the procedure gives doctors an opportunity to intervene during a critical period of fetal development and expands access to specialized care for families in Texas and beyond.