A state-of-the-art in-utero procedure allows surgeons to correct a birth defect on developing babies inside the womb. But operating on a mother and her unborn child at the same time can be challenging and unpredictable.

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To give their world-class surgeons even more information ahead of surgery, Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is using MRI and ultrasound imaging along with 3D-printing technology to create a first-of-its-kind detailed model that allows surgeons to plan procedures ahead of time, identifying potential obstacles and reducing the risks of surgery. The models are currently being used to plan for an in-utero surgery that repairs spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when the spinal cord fails to close normally during development. The condition can cause a lifetime of neurological disabilities, including an inability to walk. The 3D reconstruction of the fetus can really educate the surgeon on the real-life shape, size and location of the spinal lesion, as well as prepare the surgeon to have the appropriate equipment ready to treat this condition surgically. It’s a level of detail that we are not able to see in traditional imaging, but that is extremely valuable in these cases where we cannot […]

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