PEDIATRICS Vol. 43 No. 4 April 1969, pp. 631-632
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Bluestone, S. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Bluestone, S. S.

Treatment of Myelomeningocele: I

Seymour S. Bluestone M.D.1

1 Division of Rehabilitation Medicine Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center Bronx, New York 10467

In his Commentary, "Surgical Treatment of Myelomeningocele" (Pediatrics, 42:225, 1968),Dr. Donald D. Matson recommends only custodial care for children with no neurologic function "below the upper lumbar levels," whether or not there is signifiant hydnocephalus." He acknowledges a divergence of opinion, implying that those who would operate upon such patients are misguided in their disregard of moral and social issues. The weight of evidence, however, seems to support the contrary opinion.

Understandably, but unfortunately, Dr. Matson could not detail in a brief Commentary the numbers, management, and duration of ohservation of the cases upon which his conclusion is based.