Outcome data and analysis in pediatric neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcomes of five commonly performed pediatric neurosurgical operations: 1) initial shunt insertion; 2) first shunt revision; 3) craniotomy for brain tumor; 4) correction of sagittal synostosis; and 5) release of tethered cords. A second purpose was to analyze the neurological outcome data after tethered cord releases. METHODS: Morbidity and mortality records, patient charts, and operative records were reviewed to determine length of hospitalization and, for each disorder, the pertinent outcomes such as duration of shunt function and incidence of infection or neurological morbidity. RESULTS: Many outcome data were expected, such as a high long-term shunt function rate after primary shunt insertion (65% at 5 yr), a low mortality rate (1%) and permanent morbidity rate (10%) after craniotomy for brain tumor, and a low frequency of transfusion (20%) for sagittal synostosis operations. The outcomes among the three neurosurgeons varied more than expected, e.g., the duration of hospitalization after sagittal reconstructions ranged from 3.1 to 5.8 days; the frequency of infections of primary shunt revisions ranged from 0 to 15%; and the neurological morbidity after tethered cord releases ranged from 0 to 12%, with all neurological morbidity occurring in patients undergoing their second or third tether release. CONCLUSION: The data may serve as a basis for outcome comparisons for these procedures. Outcome data allow us to analyze factors to improve patient care, but outcome analysis is complex.