26/01/2024
Every year, around 200,000 babies are born with spina bifida worldwide. In the United States, about 2,758 babies are born with it each year[1]. A rough estimate suggests there are 10 million people with spina bifida around the world right now. Neurogenic bladder is very common in children with spina bifida. It is present in up to 98% of children with myelomeningocele[2]. The specific types of bladder dysfunction vary, with detrusor areflexia rates between 13 and 49.5% and detrusor hyperreflexia rates between 25 and 76%[2]. Children born with spina bifida almost always have a neurogenic bladder[3].
Before the Xiao procedure, all patients with spina bifida were unable to experience any meaningful improvement in their bladder function or their urinary system; it would only get worse and worse until the patient died. The Xiao procedure is now as effective, safe, reliable, and simple as a hernia repair for restoring bladder function and voluntary voiding for the great majority of kids with spina bifida, as long as the crossover anastomosis is satisfactory.
