Aims

To report the outcome of spinal deformity correction through anterior spinal fusion in wheelchair-bound patients with myelomeningocele.

We describe 13 patients with cerebral palsy and lordoscoliosis/hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine who underwent a posterior spinal fusion at a mean age of 14.5 years (10.8 to 17.4) to improve sitting posture and relieve pain. The mean follow-up was 3.3 years (2.2 to 6.2). The mean pre-operative lumbar lordosis was 108. °. (80 to 150. °. ) and was corrected to 62. °. (43. °.  to 85. °. ); the mean thoracic kyphosis from 17. °. (-23. °. to 35. °. ) to 47. °. (25. °. to 65. °. ); the mean scoliosis from 82. °. (0. °. to 125. °. ) to 22. °. (0. °. to 40. °. ); the mean pelvic obliquity from 21. °. (0. °. to 38. °. ) to 3. °. (0. °. to 15. °. ); the mean sacral slope from 79. °. (54. °. to 90. °. ) to 50. °. (31. °. to 66. °. ). The mean pre-operative coronal imbalance was 5 cm (0 cm to 8.9 cm) and was corrected to 0.6 cm (0 to 3.2). The mean sagittal imbalance of -8 cm (-16 cm to 7.8 cm) was corrected to -1.6 cm (-4 cm to 2.5 cm). The mean operating time was 250 minutes (180 to 360 minutes) and intra-operative blood loss 0.8 of estimated blood volume (0.3 to 2 estimated blood volume). The mean intensive care and hospital stay were 3.5 days (2 to 8) and 14.5 days (10 to 27), respectively. Three patients lost a significant amount of blood intra-operatively and subsequently developed chest or urinary infections and superior mesenteric artery syndrome. An increased pre-operative lumbar lordosis and sacral slope were associated with increased peri-operative morbidity: scoliosis and pelvic obliquity were not. A reduced lumbar lordosis and increased thoracic kyphosis correlated with better global sagittal balance at follow-up. All patients and their parents reported excellent surgical outcomes. Lordoscoliosis and hyperlordosis are associated with significant morbidity in quadriplegic patients. They are rare deformities and their treatment is challenging. Sagittal imbalance is the major component: it can be corrected by posterior fusion of the spine with excellent functional results. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:800–6

Aim:. To present 11 patients with quadriplegia who developed severe lordoscoliosis or hyperlordosis. This is a rare deformity in children with CP, treatment is challenging and there are less than 20 patients ever reported. Method:. All patients underwent posterior spinal arthrodesis at mean age 14.6 years with mean follow-up 3.5 years. We measured all radiographic parameters including coronal and sagittal balance and sacral slope before and after surgery. Results:. Mean preoperative lumbar lordosis was 107°. This corrected to mean 63° at follow-up. Mean preoperative thoracic kyphosis was 13°. This improved to mean 47° at follow-up. Mean preoperative scoliosis was 80°. This corrected to mean 22o at follow up. Mean preoperative pelvic obliquity was 22°. This corrected to mean 4° at follow-up. Mean preoperative sacral slope was 80o. This corrected to mean 51o at follow-up. Mean preoperative coronal imbalance was 5.2 cm. This corrected to mean 0.6 cm at follow-up. Mean preoperative sagittal imbalance was 8 cm. This corrected to mean 1.6 cm at follow-up. Mean surgical time was 260 minutes. Mean intra-operative blood loss was 0.82 EBV. Mean stay in ICU was 3.6 and in hospital 15.2 days. Complications included 3 patients with severe blood loss (1.3–2 EBV), one patient with chest and one chest and urinary infection, and a patient with superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Increased preoperative lumbar lordosis and sacral slope correlated with surgical and postoperative morbidity. In contrast, there was no correlation between preoperative scoliosis or pelvic obliquity and surgical morbidity. Reduced lumbar lordosis and increased thoracic kyphosis correlated with better global sagittal balance at follow-up. Greater surgical time and blood loss correlated with increased postoperative morbidity. All 11 patients and their parents reported excellent feedback on the outcome of surgery with major improvement in physical appearance, sitting balance and relief of severe preoperative back pain. Discussion:. Lordoscoliosis and hyperlordosis are associated with significant morbidity in patients with quadriplegia. The sagittal imbalance is the major component of the deformity and this can be corrected satisfactorily through a posterior spinal arthrodesis which produced excellent functional results and increased patients'/caretakers' satisfaction. Conflict Of Interest Statement: No conflict of interest