Article Text
Abstract
Objectives: To see if perineal sensation in infants with open spina bifida is associated with a better long-term outcome, particularly in terms of survival, renal-related deaths and incontinence.
Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on a complete cohort of 117 consecutive patients with open spina bifida, whose backs were closed non-selectively at birth between 1963 and 1971. A meticulous neurological examination in infancy showed that 33 (28%) of them had perineal sensation, defined as intact sensation to pinprick in at least one dermatome on one side in the saddle area (S2–4). Data recorded within 48 h of birth and during six reviews between 1972 and 2002 were used. Details of deaths were obtained from medical records and from the Office of National Statistics.
Results: By December 2005, 57% (67/117) of the cohort had died. There were 50 survivors with a mean age 38 years (range 35–41). More of those with perineal sensation survived than those without (23/33 v 27/84, p<0.001). This difference was mainly caused by 19 renal deaths in those lacking perineal sensation. Crucially there were no renal-related deaths in those with perineal sensation (0/33 v 19/84, p = 0.003). Among the survivors, those with perineal sensation were more likely than the remainder to be continent of urine and faeces (10/23 v 1/27, p<0.001 and 18/23 v 9/27, p = 0.002 respectively). They were also more likely to be able to walk at least 50 m (11/23 v 5/27, p = 0.027) and never to have had pressure sores (15/23 v 9/27, p = 0.025).
Conclusions: A simple assessment of perineal sensation in infancy predicts long-term outcome in terms of survival, renal prognosis and incontinence in open spina bifida.
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Footnotes
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Published Online First 30 August 2006
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Funding: This study was funded by the UK Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH).
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Competing interests: None.
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Ethics approval was provided by Cambridge LREC reference 02/105.