Prognosis in infantile hydrocephalus

Twenty-six patients with infantile hydrocephalus were re-examined at ages ranging from 21–32 years. Operations had been performed in 11, but abnormal head growth continued post-operatively in 9. One third of the patients lead a normal life, while half of the patients are mentally deficient. All patients have neurological signs, poor dexterity and clumsiness being present in all. Psychological testing reveals uneven profiles, in 4 patients with performance IQ considerably lower than verbal IQ. Computerised tomography demonstrates all degrees of hydrocephalus with no correlation between ventricular-brain ratio and IQ or between ventricular-brain ratio and operative procedures. Full otoneurological investigation shows differential-caloric examination to be abnormal in 60%, although none of the patients have complaints referring to the vestibular system.