Lacunar skull deformity and hydrocephalus in infants with myelomeningocele: is lacunar skull deformity a predictor of hydrocephalus development?
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated whether the presence of lacunar skull deformity (LSD) with myelomeningocele is a predictive factor for subsequent hydrocephalus development.


METHODS
We reviewed the clinical and radiological records of 18 infants with myelomeningocele, divided the patients into groups with (group A, n=9) and without (group B, n=9) ventriculomegaly at birth and assessed whether the presence of LSD was predictive of the necessity for ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement.


RESULTS
LSD was present in five group A patients. All nine group A patients underwent VPS placement. Among the group B patients, five had LSD; they underwent VPS placement. A significantly higher proportion of those with ventricle enlargement or LSD at birth required VPS placement (p=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Adding to the ventriculomegaly at birth, the presence of LSD alerts to the necessity to monitor these infants closely to determine the necessity for VPS placement.
Nakahara
Kuniaki
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 228-8555, Japan. nakahara19@hotmail.com
Shimizu
Satoru
S
Utsuki
Satoshi
S
Suzuki
Sachio
S
Oka
Hidehiro
H
Fujii
Kiyotaka
K
D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016137:Spina Bifida Cystica / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed