Neonatal loss of motor function in human spina bifida aperta.

Objective: In neonates with spina bifida aperta (SBA), leg movements innervated by spinal segments located caudal to the meningomyelocele are transiently present. This study in neonates with SBA aimed to determine whether the presence of leg movements indicates functional integrity of neuronal innervation and whether these leg movements disappear as a result of dysfunction of upper motor neurons (axons originating cranial to the meningomyelocele) and/or of lower motor neurons (located caudal to the meningomyelocele).

Methods: Leg movements were investigated in neonates with SBA at postnatal day 1 (n = 18) and day 7 (n = 10).