Clinical findings and surgical outcomes of encephalocoeles

Background: Encephalocoeles are herniation of the brain and its meninges via a midline cranial vault defect or at base skull, site local mesenchymal disruption. It accounts for 10% to 20% all spinal dysraphisms found in 1/5000 live births.Method: is 5 year retrospective study on 42 cases encephalocoele managed Nigerian Tertiary Medical Centre. We extracted clinical findings surgical management outcomes from patient's case notes.Result: Ages presentation were Neonates (24, 57.1%), ≤3 months (35, 83.3%), with mode 2 days. Males (12, 28.6%), females (30, 71.4%), M:F=1:2.5. Posterior (occipital) lesions (36, 85.7%), anterior (6, 14.3%). Variable size (33, 78.6%), giant encephalocoeles (9, 21.4%). Hydrocephalus (16, 38.1%) included pre-excision HCP 75% 16) post excision (4, 25% 16). Available neuroimaging was TFUSS (all, 100%), CT Scan (20, 47.6%), MRI (2, 4.8%). Surgery repair combined craniofacial 14.3%), additional ventriculoperitoneal shunt 38.1%). Post-operative complications CSF leak 4.8%), superficial infection (3, 7.1%), meningitis (1, 2.4%), 9.5%), obstruction (7, 16.7%). Outcomes good (38, 90.5%), blind vegetative death 2.4%).Conclusions: an uncommon congenital type neural tube containing herniated tissue. commoner (and maybe size) than (Sincipital). Surgical generally good.