MOMS Trial - Outcomes of The Trial

Outcomes of The Trial

An interim analysis conducted in December 2010, made public in February 2011, and released in the New England Journal of Medicine in March 2011, showed a statistically significant benefit to the surgery and closed the trial.

The trial demonstrated that outcomes after prenatal spina bifida treatment are improved to the degree that the benefits of the surgery outweigh the maternal risks. Results were reported in the New England Journal of Medicine by Adzick et al.

Specifically, the study found that:

• Babies that underwent fetal repair of spina bifida were half as likely to need a ventricular shunt.
• Chiari malformation was less common in the fetal repair group.
• Standardized test scores for motor skills were superior in the fetal surgery group, and twice as many children were walking independently at 30 months as compared to the postnatal surgery group.

Based on these outcomes, fetal repair of spina bifida is now considered a standard of care at some fetal centers. However, prenatal repair is a complex and challenging procedure, requiring the most expert, comprehensive care for both mother and fetus. The surgical team’s level of experience in all aspects of care surrounding the operation are of paramount importance.