Simultaneous surgical treatment in congenital scoliosis and/or kyphosis associated with intraspinal abnormalities.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: To show retrospective analysis of 21 consecutive patients who underwent simultaneous surgical treatment for progressive spinal deformity and coexisting intraspinal pathologies (tethered cord and/or diastematomyelia).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The classic advocated approach in patients with congenital spine deformity associated with intraspinal anomalies is first to perform surgery for the intraspinal pathologies and then surgery for correction and stabilization of the deformity 3 to 6 months later. To our knowledge, there is no study on simultaneous surgical treatment for these 2 associated conditions.

METHODS: In the surgery; after the exposure of the determined levels, placement of all pedicle screws was performed as the initial part of surgical procedure. Then surgical treatment for intraspinal pathology was performed by the neurosurgical team and then followed by completion of instrumentation and correction of the deformity. Additional anterior surgery was done later to prevent pseudarthrosis and crankshaft phenomenon.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at presentation ranged from 3 to 19 years (mean, 13 years). There were 17 female patients and 4 male patients. Four patients had neurologic deficits at the time of presentation, and all 4 had associated kyphosis. The mean operation time was 9.3 hours (range, 7-12 hours) and the mean blood loss was 1980 mL (range, 1500-3000 mL). The average follow-up was 6.8 years (2-12 years). None of the patients experienced deterioration in their neurologic status after surgery. None of the patients had infection, pseudarthrosis, or loss of correction during the follow-up visits.

CONCLUSION: The simultaneous surgical treatment for congenital deformity and intraspinal abnormality does not involve significant complications and seems to be an alternative and safe treatment option.