Effect of nonoperative treatment on the outcome of patients with posttraumatic hydrocephalus.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the outcome of non-operative treatment with the outcome of surgical intraventricular drainage for patients with posttraumatic hydrocephalus including complications, mortality and favorable outcome.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients were assigned to a nonoperative treatment group and 38 patents to a surgical intraventricular drainage group. Each patient's outcome was evaluated 3 years after treatment by using Glasgow Outcome Scale.


RESULTS
In the nonoperative treatment group the rate of favor able outcome (good recovery or mild disability) was 89.74% (35 of 39 patients) and the mortality was 2.56% (1 of 39 patients). In the surgical intraventricular drainage group the rate of favorable outcome was 71.05% (27 of 38 patients) and the mortality was 13.16% (5 of 38 patients; P<0.05). Mortality was not significantly different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Nonoperative treatment may be better than surgical intraventricular drainage for patients with posttraumatic hydrocephalus.
Fu
Linshan
L
Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong Medical College, The First People's Hospital of Yancheng, Yancheng 224001, China. y8598115@pub.yc.jsinfo.net
Tang
Yunhai
Y
Wang
Shiyu
S
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome