Early Infantile Electroencephalography in Patients with Spina Bifida^[*]

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the prognostic value of electroencephalography in infants born with spina bifida.

Methods:

31 infants with spina bifida born between 2002 and 2007 at the Radboud Nijmegen University Medical Centre were evaluated and followed for 2½ years. Electroencephalography (EEG) was performed during the first 8 weeks after birth.

Results:

EEG recordings were all within normal limits and showed no abnormalities. 3 of the 31 children showed mild mental disability and major physical disabilities at the age of 30 months.

Conclusion:

Single Infantile EEG recordings are of limited prognostic value for infants born with spina bifida. Serial EEG recordings in combination with other clinical or neurophysiological investigations might ameliorate the contributing predictive value of neonatal EEG.

Key words

spina bifida - outcome - infants - electroencephalography

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