[Aspects of long-term management of children with myelomeningocele. Analysis of the last 10 years from the neuropediatric-neurosurgical viewpoint].
BACKGROUND
Both the use of a selective policy of treatment of newborns with myelomeningocele and the right time of back closure are still controversially discussed. We report our experiences in the long-term care of children with myelomeningocele.


METHODS
103 newborns with myelomeningocele (n = 94) and meningocele (n = 9) born 1980 to 1990 and cared for regularly at the Olgahospital's pediatric clinic were followed up from the neuropediatric-neurosurgical point of view. Postpartum we predominantly practised a selective policy of treatment.


RESULTS
15 of 21 children (71.4%) not operated on died during the first days or months of life, 6 (28.6%) survived. 70 were operated selectively, of which 9 (12.9%) died, 61 (87.1%) survived with mainly good result. There were no differences in the survival rate and frequency/type of postoperative complications with respect to the time of the back closure. 31 children with myelomeningocele (33%) had CNS anomalies other than the Arnold-Chiari-Malformation, mostly being a dys- or aplasia of the corpus callosum and a deformed ventricle system. These were diagnosed almost exclusively by CT or MRT scan.


CONCLUSIONS
We still predominantly practised a selective policy of treatment of newborns with myelomeningocele with mainly good results.
Holder
M
M
Olgahospital, Pädiatrisches Zentrum, Kinderklinik, Stuttgart.
Köhler
B
B
Wörle
H
H
Keimer
R
R
Tzonos
T
T
D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008588:Meningocele / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
Aspekte der Langzeitbetreuung von Kindern mit Myelomeningozele. Analyse der letzten 10 Jahre aus neuropädiatrisch-neurochirurgischer Sicht.