An analysis of the relationship between Myelomeningoceles, Hvydrocephalus and Chiari malformations

Abstract

The study reports on 45 patients with myelomeningoceles that were operated at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018. There was a total of 29 males and 16 females with most of the myelomeningoceles (MMC's) witin the lumbosacral region. None of the patients operated on during this period had cervical MMC's whilst 3 had thoracic MMC's. Hydrocephalus was present in 77,8% of patients that were operated on and 66,7% were diagnosed with Chiari II malformations. 30 patients had colpocephaly which works out to 66,7% of those patients that had MMC's. Differences between female and male patients wer not identified apart from the incidence of Chiari Type II malformation. Seven patients are known to have demised.