FRACTURES OF THE PERITONEAL CATHETERS OF CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID SHUNTS

A retrospective study of fractures of peritoneal catheters of ventricu loperitoneal shunts is described. Fracture of the peritoneal catheter accounts for 21.2%,of shunt revisions. During the time period of Janua ry 1985 through July 1993, 401 PS Medical peritoneal catheters were in stalled and 23 fractures occurred. The fracture rate of PS Medical sma ll-sized catheters is 15.3%. The fracture rate of PS Medical regular-s ized catheters is 2.1%. The overall survival rates of the PS Medical s mall-sized and regular-sized catheters are significantly statistically different (p < 0.001). The peritoneal catheters fractured most freque ntly in the neck.