The treatment of scoliosis in cerebral palsy by posterior spinal fusion with Luque-rod segmental instrumentation

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1988 Jan;70(1):41-4.

Abstract

Thirty-three patients who had cerebral palsy and scoliosis underwent posterior spinal fusion with Luque-rod segmental instrumentation. The mean curve measured 65 degrees preoperatively and 30 degrees postoperatively. The mean loss of correction was 3 degrees after a mean length of follow-up of forty months. As of the time of writing, pseudarthrosis had not developed in any patient. No patient had a broken rod or an increased neurological deficit. There were no major pulmonary complications. The most common early postoperative complication was wound infection, which occurred in five patients, none of whom required removal of the hardware. We concluded that posterior spinal fusion with Luque-rod segmental instrumentation is an effective method of obtaining and maintaining correction of a spinal curve, with minimum complications, in patients who have cerebral palsy and progressive scoliosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cerebral Palsy / complications*
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Orthopedic Fixation Devices*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Radiography
  • Reoperation
  • Scoliosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Scoliosis / etiology
  • Scoliosis / surgery*
  • Spinal Fusion / instrumentation
  • Spinal Fusion / methods*
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / surgery