SALT LAKE CITY, February 9, 2026 – A groundbreaking new surgical technique is offering hope to families facing spina bifida, allowing doctors to repair the condition while the baby is still in the mother’s womb with significantly less invasiveness. This advancement means fewer risks for both mother and child, and keeps families in Utah for treatment instead of traveling out of state.
Less Invasive Surgery Offers New Hope for Spina Bifida Repair
A new fetoscopic approach to spina bifida repair minimizes incisions, potentially improving outcomes for babies and mothers.
- Caregivers at Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital are now performing spina bifida repairs using a fetoscopic surgery method.
- This technique involves only three small incisions in the uterus, a significant reduction from previous open procedures.
- Repairing spina bifida in utero can decrease physical and cognitive complications and lower risks for future pregnancies.
- The new procedure allows families to receive care locally, eliminating the need to travel for treatment.
For nearly four years, surgeons at the Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital have been repairing spina bifida with open in-utero procedures, requiring a larger incision on the uterus. Now, they’re pioneering a new approach: fetoscopic surgery. This innovative method utilizes just three small incisions, offering a gentler alternative for expectant mothers and their developing babies.
Spina bifida is a congenital neural tube defect that occurs when the spinal column doesn’t close completely during the first month of pregnancy. It’s the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States, affecting approximately 70,000 to 166,000 babies each year.
Repairing spina bifida while the baby is still in the womb significantly reduces the possibility of long-term physical and cognitive complications. It also offers mothers the potential for lower-risk pregnancies in the future. This advancement is particularly impactful for families in the region, allowing them to receive specialized care in Utah without the burden of traveling to other parts of the country.
News media are invited to an event where surgeons and patients will share their experiences with this life-changing procedure. Video and photos of the procedure will be available.
WHEN: 10:30 am, MT, Monday, February 9, 2026
WHERE: Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital
Eccles Outpatient Services Building
81 N Mario Capecchi Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84113
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