Silver nitrate therapy as an adjunct in the treatment of myelomeningocele.

Abstract

✓ Fifteen patients in whom immediate closure of a myelomeningocele sac was not possible were treated by continuous application of dilute solutions of silver nitrate. Local infection of the sac was prevented or irradicated in 14 of the 15 patients within 72 hours. There were no infections in subsequent shunting procedures. No adverse neurological effects were noted, although the method was usually restricted to patients with neurological deficits below the level of the myelomeningocele sac. One patient who developed persistent hyponatremia and hypochloremia after prolonged application responded well to cessation of the therapy.