Journal of Spine

Surgical Treatment Approaches in Severe Spinal Deformities Associated with Intraspinal Pathologies

Abstract

Mehmet Bulent Balioglu, Deniz Kargin, Akif Albayrak, Yunus Atici, Ali Oner and Mehmet Akif Kaygusuz

Objective: Scoliosis with associated intraspinal anomalies may be treated either before the correction of spinal deformities or during the same session. Our study elucidates the impact of the timing of single- or two-stage neurosurgical and deformity treatment of intraspinal pathologies with the outcomes of serious spinal deformities and discusses the preferable method.
Methods: Patients who were operated either concurrently or in two stages, due to intraspinal anomalies associated with rigid spinal deformities, were radiologically and clinically examined. Patients’ ages during the neurosurgical treatment and at the time of deformity treatment, period between two surgeries, follow-up period, clinical and radiological results and encountered complications were recorded.
Results: Nineteen patients (13 females, 6 males) underwent surgery for spinal deformities associated with intraspinal pathologies between 2007 and 2014. Fifteen (78.9%) patients underwent a two-stage surgery and four (21.1%) patients’ concurrent surgeries. Mean age of the patients at the time of intraspinal pathology surgery was 8.6 ± 6.9 years and at posterior spinal fusion (PSF) 13.4 ± 3.9 years. The period between the two surgeries was 54.2 ± 67.5 months on average and the mean follow-up period was 39.8 ± 22.2 months. The anteroposterior Cobb’s angle was measured as 68.2° ± 27.1° preoperatively and 29.1° ± 18.7° at final examination (p=0.00). Visual analog scale score was 8.1 ± 1 preoperatively and 1.1 ± 0.2 at the final follow-up (p=0.00).
Conclusion: The etiology, extent of deformity, curve progression and patient’s age were indicative in the surgical treatment of intraspinal pathologies and spinal curves. Concurrent surgical interventions may be recommended to avoid additional complications and for quicker recovery.