Abstract
Background: To stimulate a debate as to whether neurological compromise as a result of spinal instrumentation is the result of direct or indirect cord injury of more the result of cord ischaemia due to the highly abnormal vascular anatomy encountered in these patients.
Methods: Review of three cases of neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent angiograms under general anaesthetic. Graphical comparisons with normal patterns spinal vascular anatomy
Results: Vascular anatomy was found to be so abnormal in these patients that the series was discontinued due to the perceived risk of paraplegia as a result of the angiogram procedure itself.
Conclusion: We plan to perform CT angiograms in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis to further elucidate the vascular anatomy in these patients
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Colin E. Bruce. Correspondence should be addressed to Colin E. Bruce, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Eaton Road, Liverpool, L12 2AP.