ABSTRACT
Background: Myelomeningocele is most complex form of spin a bifida and most of the times, it is associated with hydrocephalus
Objective: To find the frequency of hydrocephalus in Myelomeningocele patients
Methodology: Study design: Cross sectional Study. Setting: Department of Neurosurgery, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan. Study duration: From 1[st] January 2012 to 31[st] December 2013. Study subjects: 52 patients of Myelomeningocele were included in our study and were assessed for different variables like age, sex, site of lesion, presence of hydrocephalus and status of lower limbs [power, sensation and sphincter control]. The data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 15
Results: 34 patients [65.38%] were male and 18 patients [34.61%] were female and common site of lesion was lumbar region [48%] followed by thoracolumbar region [42%]. The power of legs was G0-G2 in majority of patients [90%]. 40 patients [76%] had hydrocephalus detected by CT Scan brain
Conclusion: Our study suggests it is better to put VPShunt before going for treatment of Myelomeningocele, as majority of the patients of myelomeningocele have hydrocephalus