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Harvey Cushing’s experience with treating childhood hydrocephalus: in his own words

  • Classics in Pediatric Neurosurgery
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Abstract

Purpose

As the founder of modern neurosurgery, Harvey Cushing is known for his innovations and treatment for many neurosurgical disorders. However, few are aware that Cushing treated childhood hydrocephalus. Examples of these treatments include the placement of ventriculo-subgaleal shunts, ventriculo-jugular shunts, ventriculo-superior sagittal sinus shunts, and at least 12 lumbar cistern-to-retroperitoneal shunts that, as he put it, had “a considerable measure of success.” The authors wish to provide insight into Cushing’s treatment of childhood hydrocephalus.

Methods

The authors review Cushing’s writings on this topic.

Results

The authors provide a window into this pioneer’s early thinking on the physiology and production of cerebrospinal fluid.

Conclusions

Although decades went by before reliable treatments for hydrocephalus were established, Cushing pioneered both the thought processes and surgical options for this disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, AL, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Tabriz University (Medical Sciences), Tabriz, Iran

    Payman Vahedi

  3. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada

    Marios Loukas

  4. Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, and Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1801 North Senate Blvd # 610, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol

Authors
  1. R. Shane Tubbs
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  2. Payman Vahedi
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  3. Marios Loukas
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  4. Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aaron A. Cohen-Gadol.

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Tubbs, R.S., Vahedi, P., Loukas, M. et al. Harvey Cushing’s experience with treating childhood hydrocephalus: in his own words. Childs Nerv Syst 27, 995–999 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-011-1437-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-011-1437-6

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