Spina bifida (cleft spine) Treatment in Dr. Eber Brain Hospital

Spina bifida treatment at Dr. Eber Brain Hospital in Qingdao and Tianjin, China, focuses on reducing spasticity through advanced neurosurgery. FSPR surgery for this condition typically runs around $16,800. The facility is a tertiary-level hospital and holds the top rank in China for cerebral palsy and related neurological care.

Prof. Sun Chenyan leads the functional neurosurgery team with over 20 years of experience. Prof. Sun Chenyan is a national medal laureate who performed the first-in-world FSPR for paralyzed hands in 2016. The medical team combines Western surgical techniques with traditional Chinese medicine to help patients regain mobility.

Diagnostic options

Before surgery, the hospital uses high-precision imaging to map the nervous system. Patients undergo a thorough evaluation to determine if they are candidates for nerve rootlet sectioning.

• MRI 3.0T (Philips). High-resolution imaging helps doctors see the spinal cord and nerve structures clearly.
• PET-CT. This scan helps assess metabolic activity in the nervous tissue.
• DSA angiography. This procedure visualizes blood vessels around the spine to help surgeons plan a safe path.
• Video-EEG monitoring. This tool tracks brain and nerve activity during the diagnostic phase.

Functional selective posterior rhizotomy (FSPR)

The primary surgical treatment for spina bifida-related spasticity is FSPR. This procedure involves carefully cutting overactive nerve rootlets in the spine. By doing this, surgeons can permanently reduce muscle stiffness while keeping sensory functions intact. The surgery may cost around $16,800 and includes several medical services:

• Surgical procedure. The operation uses Carl Zeiss microscopes for high precision.
• Anesthesia with IONM. Doctors use intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring to track nerve signals in real-time.
• Hospital stay. The package covers 4 to 7 days of hospitalization.
• Robotic rehabilitation. Patients have access to the Lokomat system for gait training after the initial recovery.

The hospital offers a free second opinion within 48 hours for international families. While the surgery reduces spasticity, most patients require 3 to 6 months of postoperative rehabilitation to achieve the best functional results. You may request a consultation through Bookimed to review your medical records with the specialists.