Myelomeningocele – a case report

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of the work is to present the main nursing problems and to discuss nursing care for a child after myelomeningocele surgery. Material and methods. The research method used in the work is the analysis of an individual case using the nursing process. Techniques and research tools include a standardized nursing interview conducted with the child’s parents, observation of the patient, analysis of medical records. Percentile Grids developed by WHO for children aged 0–3 years were used for anthropometric assessment. The child’s mobility was assessed using a mobility scale (based on the FMS – Functional Mobility Scale) for children aged 3–18. The scale assesses a child’s ability to move within 5 meters. The scoring criteria have been divided according to the way you move. The child can receive points from 1 to 6. Additional criteria are C and N, where C indicates moving in low positions at home, e.g. crawling, while N indicates the child’s inability to move. The level of anxiety intensity in the child’s mother was also examined. For this purpose, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Rating Scale (HADS-M) was used. The questionnaire consists of 16 questions in total. For the answer to a particular question, you can get from 0 to 3 points (4-point Likert scale). The first 14 questions measure the level of anxiety and depression on the basis of two independent subscales, each of which is rated from 0 to 21 points. The last two questions concern the rating of irritability (0 to 6 points). Scores in the range of 0–7 points are considered correct. A score between 8–10 is the limit value, while a score of 11–21 points indicates irregularities. Conclusions. Caring for a disabled child requires a significant commitment from the child’s parents. It is often associated with the need to reorganize the current life in order to take care of the child. Patient K.M. spends most of her time with her mother, who, despite her young age, took care of her daughter.