Congenital scoliosis

Patterns of congenital bony spinal deformity and associated neural anomalies on X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging

PURPOSE

Congenital malformations of the bony vertebral column are often accompanied by spinal cord anomalies; these observations have been reinforced with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that the incidence of cord anomalies will increase as the number and complexity of bony vertebral abnormalities increases.

METHODS

All patients aged ≤13 years (n = 75) presenting to the pediatric spine clinic from 2003-2013 with congenital bony spinal deformity and both radiographs and MRI were analyzed retrospectively for bone and neural pathology. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare groups for categorical dependent variables. Independent t tests were used for continuous dependent variables. Significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Fifty-five percent of congenital spine deformity patients (n = 41) had associated spinal cord anomalies on MRI. Complex bony abnormalities had a higher incidence of cord anomalies than simple abnormalities (67, 37 %; p = 0.011). Mixed deformities of segmentation and formation had a higher incidence of cord anomalies (73 %) than failures of formation (50 %) or segmentation (45 %) alone (p = 0.065). Deformities in the sacrococcygeal area had the highest rate of spinal cord anomalies (13 of 15 patients, 87 %). In 35 cases (47 %), MRI revealed additional bony anomalies that were not seen on the radiographs.

CONCLUSIONS

As the number of bony malformations increased, we found a higher incidence of cord anomalies. Clinicians should have increased suspicion of spinal cord pathology in the presence of mixed failures of segmentation and formation.

An unusual case of congenital scoliosis associated with rib agenesis in the upper part of the concavity treated by VEPTR vertebra to vertebra

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Rib agenesis in congenital scoliosis is rarely encountered, and its disposal in the application area of the proximal vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) module is a challenge to the orthopedic surgeon.

PURPOSE

To present a case in which known treatment methods in early-onset scoliosis were not possible to apply.

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

METHODS

A patient aged 1 year and 10 months, presenting a congenital scoliosis with the following characteristics: left T3 hemisegmented hemivertebra, T5-T6-T7 hemivertebral segment, T9, T10 trapezoidal vertebrae, right side I-IV rib agenesis with T1-T2-T4 hemivertebral hypoplasia (T3 agenesis) and bilateral XIIth rib agenesis, and V-VI and VII-VIII-IX fused ribs on the right side. We applied a standard VEPTR in a new construct, vertebra to vertebra.

RESULTS

The VEPTR vertebra to vertebra proved to be an efficient and stabile construct after 1.5 years of follow-up and three device distractions in a row. The curve corrected from 100 to 58 Cobb degrees.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that the vertebra-to-vertebra construct with eventual modifications may be a solution in the treatment of early-onset scoliosis needing surgery, which associate rib agenesis in the area where the proximal module has to be applied.