A multidisciplinary medical team at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) has successfully carried out a rare fetoscopic surgery to repair spina bifida in a 25-week-old foetus weighing just 800 grams. The 90-minute minimally invasive operation marks a significant step forward in prenatal care in the UAE.
Spina bifida, a serious birth defect where the spinal cord and surrounding membranes do not close properly during early pregnancy, can lead to paralysis, neurological complications, and lifelong disabilities. Surgeons at SKMC used advanced fetoscopic technology — inserting a miniature camera and instruments through three incisions, each only three millimetres wide — to access the womb and repair the spinal defect before birth.
The delicate procedure was performed under the Visiting Physicians Programme, launched by the Department of Health–Abu Dhabi, which brings top international specialists to collaborate with local experts. The intervention was completed without opening the uterus, allowing the pregnancy to continue safely until delivery.
Dr. Adel Ali Al Junaibi, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Seha SKMC, said the prenatal repair offers major benefits for both the mother and child. “Prenatal repair of spina bifida significantly improves long-term outcomes, reducing the risk of paralysis and neurological complications while limiting the need for multiple surgeries after birth,” he explained. “Through early intervention, we are giving the child a better chance to walk independently and live a more active and fulfilling life.”
Dr. Werner Gerhard Diehl, Consultant in Fetal Medicine at Seha Corniche Hospital, highlighted the complexity and precision required for such operations. “Fetoscopic repair of spina bifida is an intervention performed before birth to correct the defect. When carried out early, it improves mobility and reduces the risk of neurological complications without increasing risk for the mother,” he said. “This procedure requires an exceptional degree of precision, extensive planning and training, and multidisciplinary collaboration.”
The Foetal Medicine Centre at Seha Corniche Hospital has so far performed over 500 therapeutic interventions, achieving results that meet international standards and solidifying Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional leader in advanced foetal care.
