Etiology and prognosis in hydrocephalus.

In a retrospective study, 219 hydrocephalic patients from the preshunt era were identified. Mortality and working ability in survivors 21-35 years old were examined in different etiological groups. In one-third, no etiological factor was known or suspected. Of the remaining patients, 30% had more than one possible etiological factor. Patients with verified infection or trauma had a higher mortality than patients with suspected infection or trauma. However, survivors with suspected trauma and infection did not fare any better than survivors with verified trauma or infection. An etiology of hydrocephalus offers little help when evaluating prognosis in an individual patient. The reasons for this may be that the classifications are ambiguous, the groups too heterogenous, or that the "etiology of hydrocephalus" is not relevant, since it is sign and not a disease entity.