Developmental abnormalities of the central neural tube
If spinal convergence is not complete, a part of the meninges (meningocele) and/or the spinal cord (meningomyelitis) may be left unprotected and uncovered in the back. This condition is called spina bifida and has different grades, depending on the type of tissue missing. It is a condition that is usually surgically corrected immediately […]
Infantile Hydrocephalus
This is probably the most common pediatric neurosurgical condition. The causes may vary. Hydrocephalus may generally be due to obstruction in the the circulation, insufficient reabsorption or overproduction of cerebrospinal fluid. It is often necessary to divert the cerebrospinal fluid circulation by placing a valve. The fluid can then drain into the abdomen, or more […]
Craniosynostoses
The surface of the bones of the skull increases during childhood. We can imagine them as islands that grow and eventually join together, forming sutures. In babies, one can feel the gaps between the bones (called fontanelles). Sometimes, however, sutures may form prematurely or asymmetrically between the left and right sides. The exact […]
Chiari malformation and Syringomyelia
Chiary malformation includes a group of diseases sharing an anatomical disorder at the position of the lower part of the brain and the cerebellum. Thus, part of the cerebellum may be outside the skull, migrating downwards to the craniocervical junction, thus compressing the spinal cord. There are 4 grades for the ectopic position […]
Arachnoid cysts
These are congenital disorders formed by the pathological development of one of the membranes of the brain, namely the arachnoid mater. Normally this meninge is a thin membrane that covers the brain, leaving only minimal space, where the cerebrospinal fluid is located and circulating. If, due anatomical damage, this membrane allows for the […]
