Frequency of Hydrocephalus in Patients Presenting with Spinal Dysraphism

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of hydrocephalus in patients presenting with spinal dysraphism.Material and Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at Department of Neurosurgery, Postgraduate Medical Institute Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 119 patients of spinal dysraphism were included through convenience (non-probability) sampling, in a period of six months (from June, 2011 to December 2011). All patients with spinal dysraphism with either sex and age less than 2 years included, while patients with post spinal dysraphism surgery who developed hydrocephalus, posterior fossa lesion causing obstructive hydrocephalus and Patients with post tuberculous meningitis with hydrocephalus were excluded. Hydrocephalus was observed in these patients. The data was analyzed using the statistical program SPSS version 17.Results: Out of total number of 119 patients, majority was males with 66 in number (55.5%), while female were 53 (44.5%). The age of patients ranged from 10 days to 23 months with overall mean age 5.47 + 5.439 months. Majority of patients, 82 (68.9%), were in the age range of 01-06 months. Most of the patients, i.e., 56 (47.1%) were harboring spinal dysraphism at lumbar region. Hydrocephalus was found in quite large number of cases, 79 cases (66.4%), in patients of spinal dysraphism.Conclusion: Spinal dysraphism is slightly more common in males with frequency of 55.5%. Majority of the patients of spinal dysraphism (68.9%) were presented in the age range of 1 – 6 months. Spinal dysraphism is more common (47.1%) at lumbar region. Hydrocephalus was found in 79 cases (66.4%) of spinal dysraphism