Outcome in pediatric hydrocephalus: a comparison between previously used outcome measures and the hydrocephalus outcome questionnaire.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to assess, in a cohort of children with recently treated hydrocephalus, the correlation between scores on the Hydrocephalus Outcome Questionnaire (HOQ) and the children's type of schooling and motor functioning, and to assess the overall outcome of the children.


METHODS
The health status of 142 pediatric patients (85 boys) with previous hydrocephalus, born between 1995 and 1999, was assessed. Outcomes were determined using the HOQ, type of schooling, and motor functioning. Data were obtained from parental interviews and patient medical records. RESULTS. Twelve patients died (8.5%). Responses to the HOQ were obtained from 107 patients (65 boys). The mean age of the patients was 7 years and 9 months +/- 1.42 years (range 6-10 years). The Physical Health score of the HOQ correlated well with the motor functioning score (r = 0.652) as did the Cognitive Health score with the type of schooling (r = 0.672). Fifty-nine percent of the patients were able to attend a school for students with normal intelligence. Disabling motor functioning was found in only 30% of patients. Epilepsy was present in 14%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show a good correlation between the type of schooling and the Cognitive HOQ score and between the Physical HOQ score and the motor functioning score. The HOQ is a simple and very useful measurement for determining outcome in pediatric hydrocephalus.
Platenkamp
Marc
M
Department of Neurosurgery and Child Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hanlo
Patrick W
PW
Fischer
Kathelijn
K
Gooskens
Rob H J M
RH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007360:Intelligence; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis