Neural tube defect: Rate of occurrence in 28449 neonates

In a retrospective study of 28449 deliveries in a period of 5 years (1993-1997) in the nurseries of the 2 major teaching hospitals of the Tehran university of medical sciences we found 67 cases of neural tube defect (NTD), I.e. 2.4 per 1000 deliveries. Spina bifida (56.5% of NTD cases) was the most frequent anomaly. In 95.5% of NTD cases, mothers had no history of giving birth to a child with NTD. Hydrocephaly was the most common anomaly associated with NTD