The effect of complications on intellectual function in 167 children with myelomeningocele

A survey of the intellectual development of 167 patients with myelomeningocele is given. This group was placed into three categories: 1. 39 not shunted patients, 2. 86 shunted patients without CNS-infection, 3. 42 shunted patients with infection of CNS. The mean IQ of those not requiring a shunt and of those who were shunted but remained infection-free was within the norm (102 and 95). Those children who were shunted and then developed a CNS infection had a significantly lowered mean IQ of 73. The CSF-analysis, the severity and the duration of the infection process could not be correlated with the resultant IQ. But the result of infection upon the growing CNS is a significant factor in reducing the intelligence quotient and enhancing the perpetual-motor deficits.