Water head with spina bifida

Some children with hydrocephalus also have spina bifida. This is a malformation of the spinal cord and spinal canal. This is also called open back.

In most cases, this disease leads to a walking disability. However, these children often have a good prognosis with regard to their mental development, as they are controlled much more closely than other children. In some special centers, surgical treatment of spina bifida in the womb is already possible today, which in some cases preserves the ability to walk.

Hydrocephalus through creatine – a myth?

Pure creatine is an endogenous substance consisting of amino acids and serves the body as an energy reserve. The breakdown substance creatinine is excreted via the kidneys. The additional intake of creatine for muscle building may cause some side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea and water retention. However, these side effects do not include an increased risk of hydrocephalus. When taking creatine, it is important to ensure a sufficient fluid intake in order to keep the water and salt balance in balance.

Anatomical excursion

The cerebrospinal fluid system, which is affected by changes in hydrocephalus/water head, is divided into internal and external cerebrospinal fluid spaces. The inner cerebrospinal fluid spaces are formed by the ventricles, which can be imagined as a communicating system of extensions inside the brain. There are 4 ventricles in total, namely 2 lateral ventricles (I. and II.

ventricles), the central III. ventricle and the IV. ventricle.

Ventricle, which is located in front of the cerebellum. The III. and IV.

ventricles are connected. ventricles are connected via the aqueduct (aqueductus cerebri). The outer cerebrospinal fluid space is a space between the leaves of the soft meninges (pia mater and arachnoidea), which is called the subarachnoid space.

This space surrounds the brain and the spinal cord and has larger extensions at certain points, the so-called cisterns. There are connections between the inner and outer cerebrospinal fluid spaces, which enable the constant circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid through these spaces. The circulation path begins in the lateral ventricles, continues in the IIIrd and IVth ventricles and ends in the ventricles.

From there it reaches the outer cerebrospinal fluid spaces of the brain and spinal cord. From there, the cerebrospinal fluid flows via venous plexuses (venous plexus) or bulges of the meninges (arachnoid villi) into the venous and lymphatic system. The liquor production is performed by convolutes of vascular villi, which are located in the walls of the lateral and III and IV veins.

ventricles. These vascular villi are known as the choroid plexus, which probably forms the cerebrospinal fluid by secretion or filtration, although the ultimate path of formation has not yet been clarified. The amount of cerebrospinal fluid circulating in the cerebrospinal fluid spaces is about 50ml in children and about 150ml in adults.