Abstract
Data from 1500 patients affected by spina bifida have been collected in a multicentre study in Spain from 1986 to 1988. This paper is concerned with a part of the data, specifically regarding the walking of patients and certain factors that influence the prognosis for ambulation.
The neurological level of lesion most commonly present was lumbosacral (65.6%). Hydrocephalus was frequent (62% of the sample), and has significant implications regarding prognosis for walking.
Hip dislocation (32%) and scoliosis (22.9%) were orthopaedic problems noted in our sample. Pressure sores appeared in 31.7% of the patients.
The onset of walking ability has been studied; 15% of the sample started walking at an age older than 5 years.
Finally, different modalities of ambulation are described according to the use of ancillary devices, and in independence in activities of daily living.
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Llopis, I., Muñoz, M., Agulló, E. et al. Ambulation in patients with myelomeningocele: a study of 1500 patients. Spinal Cord 31, 28–32 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1993.5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1993.5
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