Study Design: A retrospective analysis of patients with spinal disorders using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) results.

Objective: To review the clinical and MRI results of patients with various scoliotic deformities.

Background: Insufficient reports exist regarding the MRI’s of scoliotic deformities. MRI’s can offer vital information in the diagnosis of various types of scoliosis and their concomitant disorders.

Methods: MRI reults of a total of 277 patients with various types of scoliosis/kyphoscoliosis were reviewed. All patients met the cobb angle criteria: > or = 20 degrees. 65 (23.46%) patients were male and 212 (76.53%) were female. 224 (80.86%) patients received conservative treatment and 53 (19.14%) underwent surgical treatments. 107 (38.62%) patients had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, mean age: 13.7 (7–18) years, 76 (27.43%) adult idiopathic, mean age: 29.53 (19–79) years, 48 (17.32%) congenital, mean age: 12.6, (1–46) years, 29 (10.46%) neuromuscular, mean age: 12.86 (2–30) years, 15 (5.41%) syndromic, mean age: 13.6 (1–29) years, 2 (0.72%) tumor related, mean age:10.5 (8–13) years.

Results: MRI results revealed the spinal cord of 169 (61.01%) patients as normal: no spinal cord anomalies, tumors, or congenital problems. Of the remaining patients 108 (38.98%) the following irregularities were diagnosed: 39 (36.11%) syringohydromyeli in various spinal locations, 29 (26.85%) butterfly vertebrae, 19 tethered cord (17.59%), 10 (9.2%) split cord, 10 diastometamyelia, 10 cleft vertebrae, 14 (12.96%) myelomeningocele, 7 (6.48%) grade one spondilolisthezis, 5 (4.62%) caudal regression syndromes, 6 (5.55%) vertebra partial fusion, 4 (3.7%) cranio-cervical problems, 4 cerebellar tonsillar ectopia, 3 (2.77%) block vertebra, 3 chiari typ2 II, 3 TIS, 2 (1.85%) tumors on the spinal column, 2 neurofibromatosis, 2 introdural lipoma, 2 myelomalacia of the spinal cord, 2 spinal cord injuries, 1 (0.92%) arachnoid cyst, 1 neuroanteric, 1 spina bifida, 1 scheuermann, 1 vertebral artery hypoplasia, 1 sacral dermal sinus, 1 cervical rib, 1 interpedicullar cyst, 1 high scapula, 1 sphenoid sinus retention cyst, 1 paravertebral cyst, 1 Schmorl’s node, 1 Tarlow cyst and 1 intercranial pineal cyst.

Conclusion: Our study revealed how MRI analysis can lead to the accurate diagnosis of scoliotic deformities. In many cases tumors, neuromuscular pathology and syndromic conditions can be misdiagnosed as scoliotic. Careful MRI review can offer vital information for diagnosis and help determine the classification of scoliosis and subsequent treatment.

Purpose: To compare the radiological and functional results of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) patients who received Pemberton Pericapsular Osteotomy (PPO) with femoral shortening (FS) and those who did not.

Material and Method: Between the years 2001–2006 of 12 DDH patients 14 hips (7 female unilateral, 2 female bilateral, 3 male) received treatment. 5 patients (6 hips) received PPO and/or open reduction (OR) (group 1), and 7 patients (8 hips) received OR+PPO+FS (group 2). The average age of group 1 was 2.06, and group 2 was 5.08 years. All patients received one stage surgery. According to the Tönnis the grade of displacement and the acetabular index (AI) was determined preop and postop. Clinical evaluations were made with McKay, radiological with Severin and femoral head avascular necrosis measurements were taken with Kalamchi-MacEwen. The average follow up period was 5.8 ±1.6 for group 1 and 6.67 ±1.4 years for group 2.

Results: AI for group 1 was 40.12°±4.09 preop and 16.88°±6.45 (p=0.012) postop, group 2 was 44.33°±7.31 preop, and 30°±5.66 (p=0.009) postop. Both groups showed a significant correction (p< 0.05). According to Severin classification group 1 was 87.5% Ia, 12.5% III, group 2 was 75% Ia, 12.5% Ib, 12.5% II. According to Kalamchi-McEven measurements group 1 was 75% Type I, 25% Type II. Functional results of group 1 were 87% I (very good), 12.5% II (good), group 2 100% I (very good). For each group no significant difference was found in terms of clinical and radiological results (p> 0.05).

Conclusion: Functional and radiological mid term results of DDH patients who received PPO with or without FS could be classified as very good.