Functioning of the children with hydrocephalus

The objective of the study was to examine selected aspects of the functioning of children treated for hydrocephalus, with particular emphasis on their degree of independence. Analysis of the medical records of patients treated for hydrocephalus in the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery in Katowice in 2000–2010. The Barthel scale was used to assess the children’s independence. Information on the children’s functioning was obtained directly from their parents using a questionnaire developed by the author. The parent group comprised 131 people, including 110 women (85%) and 21 men (15%). The study group comprised 131 children treated for hydrocephalus. In the examined group, 59 children (45%) were fully independent (first degree), 44 (34%) were partially independent (second degree) and 28 (21%) were completely dependent (third degree). Most of the children with congenital and post-inflammatory hydrocephalus attended the generally accessible school (public school), while the majority of the children with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus attended rehabilitation and educational centers or special schools (p < 0.05) The lowest level of independence was found for children with hemorrhagic hydrocephalus who had undergone repeated operations. The child’s degree of independence and the etiology of hydrocephalus determined the type of school the child attended. The study’s results indicate that rehabilitation plays a key role in the lives of children with hydrocephalus.