From child to adult.
This essay discusses a number of aspects of the neurosurgical problems that occur as a child progresses into adulthood. Some typical disorders may not present until a patient reaches adulthood ("pediatric" brain tumors, hydrocephalus, Arnold-Chiari malformation). The neurosurgeon will be confronted with disorders of maturation - children who are prematurely adult and adults who remain childlike. A variety of neurological disorders may present with these disorders of maturation; and they are discussed. Finally, the neurosurgeon must be prepared to follow-through for adults who have been treated for neurological problems when they were children. These include patients with shunts for hydrocephalus, patients with spinal deformities, and patients with secondary effects of adjunctive therapy.
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Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health System, Box 212, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. el5g@virginia.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000196:embryology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D019468:Disease Management; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000639:trends; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000639:trends; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D014481:United States