title: Harvey Cushing's experience with treating childhood hydrocephalus: in his own words.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the founder of modern neurosurgery, Harvey Cushing is known for his innovations and treatment for many neurosurgical disorders. However, few are aware that Cushing treated childhood hydrocephalus. Examples of these treatments include the placement of ventriculo-subgaleal shunts, ventriculo-jugular shunts, ventriculo-superior sagittal sinus shunts, and at least 12 lumbar cistern-to-retroperitoneal shunts that, as he put it, had "a considerable measure of success." The authors wish to provide insight into Cushing's treatment of childhood hydrocephalus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors review Cushing's writings on this topic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors provide a window into this pioneer's early thinking on the physiology and production of cerebrospinal fluid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although decades went by before reliable treatments for hydrocephalus were established, Cushing pioneered both the thought processes and surgical options for this disease.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.forename: Payman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vahedi
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.forename: Aaron A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cohen-Gadol
mesh_terms: D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000266:history*