Concept, monitoring program and results of ambulatory care of children with meningomyelocele (spina bifida)
Cremer, R.; Kellermann, K.
Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kinderheilkunde 138(8): 457-460
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-9298 PMID: 2120580 Document Number: 349461
The ambulant long term care for children with meningomyeloceles requires the interdisciplinary cooperation of pediatricians, pediatric neurologists, surgeons, orthopedists, radiologists and psychologists, social workers, physiotherapists and orthopedic mechanics. We present the concept for our out-patient consulting hour for 154 children and adolescents with meningomyeloceles, meningoceles and other forms of paraplegia, and the program of medical examinations for the detection of urologic malformations and the consequences of neurogenic disturbance of bladder function, neurologic complications (seizures, tethered cord etc). and dysfunction of liquor shunts. Additional items are the control of physiotherapy and the regular and adequate prescription and inspection of orthoses. The rate of complications is presented: revision of shunts 60%, seizures 17%, cerebral abnormalities 16%.