title: Long-term outcome in surgically treated spina bifida cystica.
abstract: This report describes the long-term operative outcome of 72 patients with spina bifida cystica. The period of follow-up was between 4 and 20 years. In our series, 17 patients died, with the mortality rate increasing as the lesions were more rostral. All cases involving only a meningocele are living without handicap. The cases of spina bifida cystica with hydrocephalus had higher morbidity and mortality when compared to those without hydrocephalus. We conclude that the rostro-caudal location, the content of the sac, and whether there is associated hydrocephalus are important factors influencing the long-term prognosis of spina bifida cystica.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Date
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagyu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asari
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohmoto
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016137:Spina Bifida Cystica / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome