Hydrocephalus, meningitis and paranasal fistula due to trauma

Hi, @rioa28022317 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Wow - you and your son have been through a lot. A car accident and surgery on your son's head, chest and limbs are significant, not to mention the time in the hospital, various procedures he's had to undergo, etc.

You mentioned he was dismissed and then readmitted with meningitis, and he didn't show much improvement at first. You also shared, though, that your son has started to improve in the last five days since the valve and feeding tube were placed.

What improvements have you witnessed since the valve and feeding tube were placed? How has he done in the last 48 hours?

Brain injuries/infection are hard on your son and your family. I hope he makes a complete recovery. Rewiring from brain trauma is a long slow process. I had a moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) from an accident 31 years ago. I was in the hospital for 6 days until my cerebral spinal fluid stopped leaking out an ear. Most of my recovery was in the first year, full recovery was about 8 years (still minor trouble remembering words and numbers, and some emotional changes [which technically are an improvement]). Recovery is like a staircase, two steps up, one back. I could work in bits and needed a lot of naps. Once your son is better, therapy to rewire the brain helps. Even things like puzzles and new learning. Healing takes time, but the brain does form new connections.

Hi, @rioa28022317 - I also wanted to tag @jessicaelder, who talked about an oroantral fistula, a specific type of paranasal fistula. She may relate to your son's situation with the fistula with which he was discharged and that was later repaired.

I'm wondering what type of meningitis your son was readmitted with, rioa28022317? In this Mayo Clinic article on meningitis, it lists various types based on the cause (see sections on bacterial, viral, chronic, etc.):
- Meningitis https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350508