The main pathologies treated by pediatric neurosurgery are craniofacial or spinal malformations (craniosynostosis, spina bifida…), hydrocephalus (accumulation of fluid in the brain cavities) and brain and spinal cord tumors.
Classification of infantile neurological pathologies: congenital or acquired
The most frequent congenital neurological pathologies are cranio-spinal malformations, hydrocephalus due to genetic alterations and some tumors. However, most neuropediatric tumors usually occur and are diagnosed during the first years of life and are classified as acquired lesions. Acquired hydrocephalus are those due to structural alterations, such as brain tumors, spina bifida, intraventricular hemorrhages, meningitis and brain trauma.
Symptoms that alert that a child may have a neurological problem
The most common symptoms that may lead to suspect that a child may be suffering from a neurological problem are alterations in the growth and neurological development of the baby, endocranial hypertension (headache, vomiting, visual disturbances, impaired level of consciousness), among others.
Pediatric neurosurgical techniques and results
Pediatric neurosurgical techniques depend on the neurological problem to be treated:
- Craniofacial malformations consist of remodeling the deformed skull or repairing the adjacent malformation at the spinal level.
- Hydrocephalus is treated by placing a shunt connecting the cerebral cavities with the peritoneum.
- In some cases the use of an intraventricular endoscope is sufficient to treat these conditions.
- Surgery for brain tumors will depend on the location, size and type, in order to try to perform the maximum possible excision of the lesion.
In most of the intervened cases optimal results are obtained, with a substantial improvement in the patient’s quality of life. Although it should be noted that the final prognosis will be determined by the magnitude and aggressiveness of the disease in question.
For more information, consult a specialist in Neurosurgery.