Hydrocephalus

What is hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluids in your deep brain cavities (ventricles). As more fluids build, the pressure on the ventricles and your brain increases.

In a healthy body, cerebrospinal fluid flows through the cavities to bathe your brain and spinal column and keep them buoyant. The fluids also cushion your brain to reduce your risk for injuries.

When you have hydrocephalus, the pressure on your brain can cause tissue damage that leads to brain dysfunction.

What causes hydrocephalus?

While you can develop hydrocephalus at any time, your risk increases after age 60. The condition is usually the result of an imbalance that interferes with the absorption of fluids by your bloodstream.

Some people develop hydrocephalus because of an underlying overproduction of fluids that makes it difficult for the body to absorb excess fluids.

However, the most common reason cerebrospinal fluid builds up around the brain is due to an obstruction in the ventricle. Obstructions may stem from brain lesions or tumors, infections, or damage left by traumatic brain injuries.

The severity of hydrocephalus depends on the underlying issues causing your condition and how quickly you receive a diagnosis and treatment.

What are the symptoms of hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus symptoms vary based on the age of onset and the severity of your condition. In infants and young children, there may be noticeable changes in head size or areas that bulge out of the scalp.

In adults, common symptoms include:

• Seizures
• Headaches
• Poor coordination
• Double or blurred vision
• Personality and behavior changes

Adults over 60, may also display memory loss, poor balance, and loss of bladder control as indications of hydrocephalus.

Since these issues can also arise due to other neurological conditions, it’s important that you get a diagnostic evaluation with an Apex Spine and Neurosurgery physician as soon as possible.

How is hydrocephalus treated?

After the Apex Spine and Neurosurgery team confirms the root cause of hydrocephalus with an ultrasound, magnetic imaging (MRI), or other diagnostic test, they may recommend surgery.

The most common treatment for hydrocephalus involves a minimally invasive procedure to place a shunt, a flexible tube that helps keep fluids flowing away from your brain.

Another surgical treatment for hydrocephalus is an endoscopic third ventriculostomy. This procedure uses minimally invasive techniques to create a hole at the bottom of one of your ventricles. From this hole, excess fluids can drain out.

To learn more about your options for surgical treatment of hydrocephalus, call the Apex Spine and Neurosurgery office nearest you, or request an appointment online today.