Cervical kyphosis and thoracic lordoscoliosis in a patient with cerebral palsy

Orthopedics. 2008 Mar;31(3):276. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20080301-36.

Abstract

The management of cerebral palsy and spinal deformity can be challenging for spine surgeons. Scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity associated with cerebral palsy; however, the development of thoracic lordoscoliosis is rare. Cervical kyphosis in cerebral palsy patients is associated primarily with athetoid cerebral palsy. This article presents a case of progressive myelopathy and concurrent cervical kyphosis and thoracic lordoscoliosis in a 17-year-old spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy patient who underwent 2-stage treatment. In the first stage, the cervical spine was managed with a 2-level cervical corpectomy of C5 and C6, with multilevel laminectomies, lateral mass plating, and wire fixation. In the second stage 3 months later, the thoracic deformity was corrected through a combined anterior spinal release of the thoracic spine with posterior spinal segmental instrumentation and sublaminar wiring. Postoperatively, the patient successfully returned to independent ambulation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cerebral Palsy / complications*
  • Cerebral Palsy / surgery*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
  • Humans
  • Kyphosis / etiology*
  • Kyphosis / surgery*
  • Laminectomy / instrumentation
  • Laminectomy / methods*
  • Lordosis / etiology*
  • Lordosis / surgery*
  • Male
  • Thoracic Vertebrae
  • Treatment Outcome