Md. Bomalaski et al., THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF UROLOGICAL MANAGEMENT ON THE QUALITY-OF-LIFE OF CHILDREN WITH SPINA-BIFIDA, The Journal of urology, 154(2), 1995, pp. 778-781
To evaluate the integration of children with spina bifida into adult s
ociety and identify important urological factors 20 female and 18 male
spina bifida patients older than 18 years were evaluated with respect
to urological management and complications. A detailed questionnaire
concerning educational achievements, living arrangements, employment a
nd interpersonal relationships was completed and compared to similar d
ata obtained from the 1990 United States census. Educational achieveme
nt and living arrangements for most patients were comparable to age ma
tched peers in the general population and were independent of gender o
r method of urinary management. The only statistically significant fac
tor related to a positive outcome was female gender in the areas of em
ployment (p < 0.014) and sexual relationships (p < 0.005). Female spin
a bifida patients adapted better to adult society than their male coun
terparts. Intestinal urinary conduits were detrimental to long-term re
nal function.