Cervical Myelocystoceles and Meningoceles: Long-Term Follow-Up

• Published in: Pediatric neurosurgery Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 118 - 122
• Main Authors: Sun, John C.L., Steinbok, Paul, Cochrane, D. Douglas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.09.2000; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Cervical Vertebrae; Child; Child, Preschool; Decompression, Surgical; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Malformations of the nervous system; Medical sciences; Meningomyelocele - complications; Meningomyelocele - diagnosis; Meningomyelocele - surgery; Neural Tube Defects - complications; Neural Tube Defects - etiology; Neural Tube Defects - surgery; Neurologic Examination; Neurology; Original Paper; Paresis - etiology; Spinal Dysraphism - complications; Spinal Dysraphism - diagnosis; Spinal Dysraphism - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt; Cervical meningomyelocele; Cervical meningocele; Long-term follow-up; Cervical myelocystocele; Cervical spina bifida; Human; Nervous system diseases; Malformation; Central nervous system disease; Myelomeningocele; Congenital disease; Spinal cord disease; Child; Long term; Comparative study; Cervical spinal cord
• ISSN: 1016-2291; 1423-0305
• DOI: 10.1159/000028992

Little is known about the long-term prognosis of patients with cervical myelocystoceles and meningoceles. In this study, we report the long-term follow-up (average 10 years and 8 months) of 8 patients with cervical myelocystoceles and meningoceles. Neurologic, orthopedic, urologic and psychosocial status was assessed on long-term follow-up. The results indicate that in patients with cervical myelocystoceles, neurologic deficits become noticeable in the first year of life as the infant matures. Motor deficit was common in these patients, whereas sensory and urologic deficits did not occur. We believe that this is related to underlying myelodysplasia. In addition, patients with cervical myelocystoceles tend to have significant orthopedic problems. In contrast, patients with cervical meningoceles do not have neurologic deficits, but do develop mild orthopedic problems.