Surgical correction of myelomeningocele scoliosis: a critical appraisal of various spinal instrumentation systems

Abstract

A retrospective review of 38 patients with myelomeningocele scoliosis, focusing on the incidence of eventual fusion, curve correction, and change in pelvic obliquity, was performed. Single stage anterior or posterior fusion was compared to combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion. Single stage anterior or posterior procedures resulted in only a 50% fusion rate compared to rates of 83 to 100% for various combinations of combined anterior and posterior fusions. Similarly, average curve correction and change in pelvic obliquity were much improved with a two-stage approach. No statistical difference in fusion rate, curve correction, or change in pelvic obliquity was noted between the various combinations of two-stage anterior and posterior fusions.