[Clinical further development of children after surgery for subdural effusions (author's tranls)]. / Zur postoperativen Entwicklung von Kindern mit subduralen Ergüssen (Lauf- und Sprachentwicklung, neurologische, elektroenzephalographische und psychologische Untersuchungen)

Follow-up examinations of 82 children after surgery for subdjral effusions show a varied degree of retardation of motor- and speech-development. This corresponds to neurologic signs of varying severity. Preoperative EEG findings are improved both in pre-school- and school children. Disturbance of motor and intellectual development as a rule corresponds to severe EEG changes. Among pre-school children 35% had an IQ below 69%, among school-children 36%. But their occupational chances cannot yet be finally assessed. Children with large effusions (over 50 ml) and extensive capsules show a higher percentage of retardation. Present results do not establish relations between site of effusion, frequency of recurrence and mental development.