Safety and Efficacy of Single-Stage Surgical Treatment for Congenital Scoliosis Associated with Intraspinal Mass

Surgical correction of pediatric spinal deformities with coexisting intraspinal pathology: A case report and literature review

Background

Surgical correction of spinal deformities with coexisting intraspinal pathology (SDCIP) requires special consideration to minimize risks of further injury to an already abnormal spinal cord. However, there is a paucity of literature on this topic. Here, the authors present a pediatric patient with a residual pilocytic astrocytoma and syringomyelia who underwent surgical correction of progressive postlaminectomy kyphoscoliosis. Techniques employed are compared to those in the literature to compile a set of guidelines for surgical correction of SDCIP.

Methods

A systematic MEDLINE search was conducted using the following keywords; "pediatric," "spinal tumor resection," "deformity correction," "postlaminectomy," "scoliosis correction," "intraspinal pathology," "tethered cord," "syringomyelia," or "diastematomyelia." Recommendations for surgical technique for pediatric SDCIP correction were reviewed.

Results

The presented case demonstrates recommendations that primarily compressive forces on the convexity of the coronal curve should be used when performing in situ correction of SDCIP. Undercorrection is favored to minimize risks of traction on the abnormal spinal cord. The literature yielded 13 articles describing various intraoperative techniques. Notably, seven articles described use of compressive forces on the convex side of the deformity as the primary mode of correction, while only five articles provided recommendations on how to safely and effectively surgically correct SDCIP.

Conclusion

The authors demonstrated with their case analysis and literature review that there are no clear current guidelines regarding the safe and effective techniques for in situ correction and fusion for the management of pediatric SDCIP.

Perioperative Halo-Gravity Traction in the Treatment of Scoliosis with Intraspinal Anomalies

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of preoperative halo-gravity traction and 1-stage posterior surgery for the treatment of scoliosis with intramedullary anomalies.

METHODS

A total of 11 patients with scoliosis with intramedullary anomalies were evaluated. All patients were treated with preoperative halo-gravity traction and 1-stage posterior surgery. The average age was 11.4 years (range, 7-21 years). All patients were followed-up for at least 2 years (mean, 3.5 years; range, 2-5 years). Their radiologic presentations and complications were reviewed.

RESULTS

The operating time was 7.9 hours, and the intraoperative bleeding amount was 1890 mL. Both the Cobb angle of scoliosis and kyphosis were significantly improved after halo-gravity traction and the operation (P < 0.05). Tethered cords were released, and intraspinal masses (neurofibromatosis and lipoma) were excised. Syringomyelia and split spinal cord malformations were left untreated. None of the patients experienced deterioration in their neurologic status after surgery. No severe complications, such as infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, failed internal fixation, or fractured pedicle screws or rods occurred after the operation. There was no deterioration of neurologic function, delayed infection, or pseudoarthrosis during the follow-up visits.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative halo-gravity traction and 1-stage posterior surgery provided patients who had scoliosis and intramedullary anomalies an effective and safe treatment option with few complications.

Posterior-Only Surgical Correction with Heavy Halo-Femoral Traction for the Treatment of Severe and Rigid Congenital Scoliosis Associated with Tethered Spinal Cord and Type II Split Cord Malformation

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of posterior-only surgical correction with heavy halo-femoral traction for the treatment of severe and rigid congenital scoliosis (SRCS) associated with tethered spinal cord (TSC) and type II split cord malformation (SCM).

METHODS

Thirteen patients with SRCS associated with TSC and type II SCM underwent posterior-only surgical correction with heavy halo-femoral traction. The preoperative mean coronal Cobb angle was 88.87° ± 12.15°; the mean flexibility was 15.28% ± 3.88%; and the mean angle of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis was 39.63° ± 18.47° and 56.99° ± 10.02°, respectively.

RESULTS

The mean duration of surgery was 320 ± 43.64 minutes and the mean blood loss was 1422.31 ± 457.59 mL. The mean follow-up period was 24.46 ± 7.53 months. After heavy halo-femoral traction, the mean coronal Cobb angle was reduced to 59.14° ± 8.75°. After posterior-only surgical correction, postoperative mean coronal Cobb angle was further reduced to 33.85° ± 8.77°. The postoperative mean correction rate was 62.46% ± 5.04%. The postoperative mean angle of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis was 29.31° ± 6.75° and 47.79° ± 3.68°, respectively. At the final follow-up, the corrective loss rate of Cobb angle was only 0.69%. There were no significant differences between final follow-up and preoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association total scores. The Scoliosis Research Society-22 total score improved at the final follow-up evaluation compared with the preoperative total score.

CONCLUSIONS

Without prophylactic neurosurgical intervention and spine-shortening osteotomy, posterior-only surgical correction with heavy halo-femoral traction could be safe and effective for the treatment of SRCS associated with TSC and type II SCM.

Posterior-only surgical correction with heavy halo-femoral traction for the treatment of rigid congenital scoliosis associated with split cord malformation

Background

Whether or not, prophylactic neurosurgical interventions of split cord malformation (SCM) before undertaking corrective surgery was the focus of debate. The present study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of posterior-only surgical correction with heavy halo-femoral traction for the treatment of rigid congenital scoliosis (RCS) associated with SCM.

Methods

From 2011 to 2017, 24 patients suffered from RCS associated with SCM underwent posterior-only surgical correction with heavy halo-femoral traction. The apex of the deformity was lumbar (n = 9), thoracic (n = 11), and thoracolumbar (n = 4). There were 13 cases of failure of segmentation; 4 cases of failure of formation and 7 cases of mixed defects. Based on SCM classification, there were 14 patients with SCM type 1 and 10 patients with SCM type 2. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scores were assessed preoperatively and at the final follow up.

Results

The mean duration of surgery was 327.08 ± 43.99 min and the mean blood loss was 1303.33 ± 526.86 ml. The mean follow-up period was 20.75 ± 8.29 months. The preoperative mean coronal Cobb angle was 80.38° ± 13.55°; on the bending radiograph of the convex side, the mean Cobb angle was 68.91° ± 15.48°; the mean flexibility was 15.04% ± 7.11%. After heavy halo-femoral traction, the mean coronal Cobb angle was reduced to 56.89° ± 13.39°. After posterior-only surgical correction, postoperative mean coronal Cobb angle was further reduced to 32.54° ±11.33°. The postoperative mean correction rate was 60.51% ± 7.79%. At the final follow up, the corrective loss rate of Cobb angle was only 3.17%. The SRS-22 total score improved at the final follow-up evaluation compared with the preoperative SRS-22 total score. The spinal cord function was stable and there were no new neurological symptoms after correction. There were no significant differences between final follow-up and preoperative mJOA total scores.

Conclusions

Without prophylactic neurosurgical intervention and spine-shortening osteotomy, posterior-only surgical correction with heavy halo-femoral traction could be safe and effective for the treatment of RCS associated with SCM.