Tew B, Evans R, Thomas M, Ford J
Dev Med Child Neurol. 1985 Oct;27(5):606-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1985.tb14132.x.
A cohort of spina-bifida children born between 1973 and 1978 and subjected to selection for surgery was divided into those who met specific physical criteria at birth and were offered immediate treatment, and those who had delayed treatment because of adverse criteria. There was a significantly higher level of intelligence among children treated immediately but a fifth of those given delayed treatment had normal levels of intelligence. There were negligible differences in intelligence between the children given delayed treatment and an unselectively treated series of children born between 1964 and 1966, suggesting that postponing surgery for a period does not necessarily have a disastrous effect upon ability.
一组在1973年至1978年出生且接受过手术筛选的脊柱裂儿童被分为两组，一组在出生时符合特定身体标准并接受了立即治疗，另一组则因不利标准而接受了延迟治疗。立即接受治疗的儿童智力水平显著更高，但五分之一接受延迟治疗的儿童智力水平正常。接受延迟治疗的儿童与1964年至1966年出生的未经筛选接受治疗的儿童系列在智力方面差异可忽略不计，这表明将手术推迟一段时间不一定会对能力产生灾难性影响。
