Abstract
We reviewed the previous medical history and the social status of all patients of Oulu University Central Hospital who had had in the age range 16–26 years shunted hydrocephalus (HC) during childhood. Of 42 patients selected 7 had died and another 5 had been institutionalized for severe mental handicap. Shunts had been changed a total of 103 times in 29 patients still living. The most common reason for a reoperation was blockage. Half of the patients re-examined showed neurological abnormalities or epilepsy. Both the verbal and the nonverbal IQ of the patients remained weak to average. Even though the patients' medical prognosis was fair, their social maturation did not keep up with their physical abilities. One-third were receiving or had received vocational training, but only a few were working. Up to one-quarter of the patients with shunted HC were at home without any meaningful work activities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gruber R (1981) The relationship of ventricular shunt complications to the chronic overdrainage syndrome: a follow up study. Z Kinderchir 34:346–352
Hemmer R, Weissenfeld E (1986) 20 Jahre Hydrocephalusbehandlung. Arch Psychiatr Nervenchir 230:257–264
Jansen J (1988) Etiology and prognosis of hydrocephalus. Child's Nerv Syst 4: 263–267
Kokkonen J, Saukkonen A-L, Timonen E, Serlo W, Kinnunen P (1991) Social outcome of handicapped children as adults. Dev Med Child Neurol 33: 1095–1100
Moilanen I, Meira L, Serlo W (1885) Psychosocial adaptation of shunted hydrocephalic children. Z Kinderchir 440: 31–33
Pople I, Quinn M, Bayston R (1990) Morbidity and outcome of shunted hydrocephalus. Z Kinderchir 45:29–31
Query J, Reichelt C, Christoferson L (1990) Living with chronic illness: a retrospective study of patients shunted for hydrocephalus and their families. Dev Med Child Neurol 32:119–128
Saukkonen A-L, Serlo W, Wendt L von (1988) Electro-encephalographic findings and epilepsy in the slit ventricle syndrome of shunt treated hydrocephalic children. Child's Nerv Syst 4: 344–347
Serlo W, Wendt L von, Fernell E (1990) The function and complications of shunts in different etiologies of childhood hydrocephalus. Child's Nerv Syst 6:92–94
Thomas A, Bax M, Smyth D (1989) The health and social needs of young adults with physical disabilities. Clin Dev Med 106:15–157
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kokkonen, J., Serlo, W., Saukkonen, AL. et al. Long-term prognosis for children with shunted hydrocephalus. Child's Nerv Syst 10, 384–387 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335127
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335127