Neuropsychic development in children born with spina bifida

The authors present the outcome of 42 patients operated at birth for closure of the spinal malformation. The age of patients at first observation ranged from 3 months to 21 years (mean 8.3 years); 7 patients (16.7%) had a close spina bifida, 35 (83.3%) had an open spina bifida and 30 (85.7%) of them developed hydrocephalus. The protocol included neurological evaluation, determination of development quotient using the Griffith's scale and intelligence quotient using the Wise-R scale. Adolescents underwent also the Blacky pictures test and Offer's interview. Verticalization and tutorial deambulation were achieved in 95.2% of patients; 76% of patients had a I.Q. > 90. The emotional situation was unsatisfactory in the majority of patients due to reduced autonomy and limited self-consideration.