The Effect of Concomitant Rib Deformity in Congenital Scoliosis on Spinal Curve Correction After Segmental Pedicle Screw Instrumentation

COSTAL MALFORMATION RELATED TO THORACOLUMBAR SCOLIOSIS IN ADOLESCENTS - CASE REPORT

ABSTRACT Congenital scoliosis associated with costal malformation is well known. However, there are no reports of idiopathic scoliosis associated with the fusion of the costal arcs in the literature. This report describes a case of idiopathic scoliosis with fusion of the 1st and 2nd costal arches in a female patient and reports changes in the deformity due to scoliosis because of the treatment. The analysis was performed from a morphological and clinical point of view, and by complementary tests. Radiographs and CT scans were obtained and evaluated from the first consultation in 2012 and during the period in which the patient was followed in a private clinic, until the stabilization of the condition, in 2014. The evolution was favorable with the use of a Milwaukee vest and there was improvement of the clinical picture after the skeletal maturity, and the angle of lateral curvature, measured by the Cobb method, initially of 20 degrees, was reduced and stabilized in nine degrees, measure which is currently maintained. The analysis showed concomitant pathologies, and the fusion of costal arches did not influence the spine deformity, since there was regression with the clinical treatment. This evolution leads us to conclude that adolescent idiopathic scoliosis should be imputed as the sole responsible for the clinical picture of the patient, and that the fusion of the costal arches does not interfere with the biomechanics of the spine. Level of Evidence: IV. Type of study: Case series.

Radiographic characteristics in congenital scoliosis associated with split cord malformation: a retrospective study of 266 surgical cases

Background

Vertebrae, ribs, and spinal cord are anatomically adjacent structures, and their close relationships are clinically important for planning better corrective surgical approach. The objective is to identify the radiographic characteristics in surgical patients with congenital scoliosis (CS) and coexisting split cord malformation (SCM).

Methods

A total of 266 patients with CS and SCM underwent surgical treatment at our hospital between May 2000 and December 2015 was retrospectively identified. The demographic distribution and radiographic data were collected to investigate the characteristics of spine curve, vertebral, rib, and intraspinal anomalies. According to Pang’s classification, all patients were divided into two groups: type I group is defined as two hemicords, each within a separate dural tube separated by a bony or cartilaginous medial spur, while type II group is defined as two hemicords within a single dural tube separated by a nonrigid fibrous septum.

Results

There were 104 patients (39.1%) in Type I group and 162 patients (60.9%) in Type II group. SCM was most commonly found in the lower thoracic and lumbar regions. The mean length of the septum in Type I SCM was significantly shorter than Type II SCM (2.7 vs. 5.2 segments). Patients in Type I group had a higher proportion of kyphotic deformity (22.1%). The vertebral deformities were simple in only 16.5% and multiple in 83.5% of 266 cases. Patients in Type I group presented higher prevalence of multiple (90.4%) and extensive (5.1 segments) malformation of vertebrae. In addition, hypertrophic lamina and bulbous spinous processes were more frequent in Type I group (29.7%), even developing into the “volcano-shape” deformities. Rib anomalies occurred in 62.8% of all patients and 46.1% of them were complex anomalies. The overall prevalence of other intraspinal anomalies was 42.9%. The most common coexisting intraspinal anomalies was syringomyelia (30.5%).

Conclusion

The current study, with the largest cohort to date, demonstrated that patients with CS and coexisting SCM presented high prevalence of multiple vertebral deformities, rib and intraspinal anomalies. The length of the split segment in Type I SCM was shorter than that in Type II SCM. Compared with Type II SCM, patients with Type I SCM presented with higher incidence of kyphotic deformity, more extensive and complicated vertebral anomalies, and more complex rib anomalies.

Orientation of the facet joints in degenerative rotatory lumbar scoliosis: an MR study on 52 patients

BACKGROUND

Because of a degenerative component, degenerative rotatory scoliosis seems different from congenital and idiopathic subtypes of the disease. This study aims to examine the orientation of facet joints, as a known cause of degeneration, in patients with degenerative rotatory scoliosis.

METHODS

Lumbar magnetic resonance (MR) images and plain radiographs of 52 symptomatic patients (mean age, 50.17 years) with degenerative rotatory lumbar scoliosis (mean curve, 19.22 degrees) and 50 healthy individuals were reviewed. Facet joint angles in rotated segments and the minimum neural foramen width at all lumbar levels were measured by three observers and the average was recorded.

RESULTS

The maximum vertebral rotation was most frequent at L4-L5 (75 %), and the majority was of type I (84.6 %) according to the Nash-Moe classification. At all lumbar spinal levels the mean facet joint angles were significantly higher on the side of rotation (L2-L3, 57.92 degrees; L3-L4, 45.00 degrees; L4-L5, 43.88 degrees) compared to those on the contralateral side (L2-L3, 20.42 degrees; L3-L4, 15.48 degrees; L4-L5, 13.12 degrees) and in controls (L2-L3, 30.21 degrees; L3-L4, 40.81 degrees; L4-L5, 45.20 degrees) (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). The mean facet joint angle increased significantly from L4-L5 to L2-L3 in cases and reversely in controls. The mean minimum neural foramen width was 1.29 ± 0.85 mm on the side of rotation, 5.50 ± 1.09 mm on the contralateral side, and 6.78 ± 1.75 mm in controls (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial asymmetries and abnormal orientations in facet joints were documented in patients with degenerative rotatory lumbar scoliosis. Such asymmetries may adversely affect neural foramen width.