The application of distraction on the concave side in the treatment of congenital cervical scoliosis / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the safety, feasibility, and short-term outcome ofdistraction on the concave side in the treatment of patients with congenital cervical scoliosis.Methods:Between August 2015 and December 2019, 11 patients with congenital cervical scoliosis underwent distraction technique on concave side, among which 5 were males and 6 were females. Age was 9.9±3.1 years old (range 6-16 years old). The primary cervical spine deformity was hemi-vertebra with different degrees of vertebra fusion. 7 cases were in C 3, 3 cases were in C 4 and 1 case was in C 5. Anterior-posterior combined approach was used. Firstly, discectomy and soft tissue release on concave side were made through anterior approach, then distraction on concave side and fusion with internal fixation were made through posterior approach and at last fixation and fusion in anterior approach were made. In this study we measured structure Cobb angle, compensatory Cobb angle, mandibular incline, shoulder balance and the angle difference of trapezius muscle preoperation and post operation. Perioperative neurological,vascular and wound related complicationswere recorded. Results:All patients' surgeries were completed successfully. Eight patients received single site distraction and 3 patients received distraction in two sites. The duration of surgery was 466±141 min (range 150-659 min), the estimated blood losswas 387±191 ml (range 100-660 ml) and follow up time was 12.2±9.5 months (range 3-24 months). Structural Cobb angle was 28.9°±13.1° pre-operation and 7.4°(3.0°, 27.7°) post-operation at 3 months, which was corrected significantly ( Z=-2.934, P=0.003). The correction rate was 58.1±26.1% (range 18.8%-97.6%). Structural Cobb angle was 13.2°±12.3°at 1 year post operation and had no significant difference compared with 3 months post operation ( t=1.960, P=0.107). Compensatory Cobb angle was 18.3°±6.1° pre-operation and 9.4°±7.3° post-operation at 3 months, which was corrected significantly ( t= 5.071, P<0.001) and the correction rate was 51.3%±28.3% (range 2.4%-94.7%). Compensatory Cobb angle was 8.9°±7.7° at 1 year follow up and was corrected significantly ( t=5.253, P=0.003) compared to 3 months after surgery and the correction rate was 61.4%±26.9%. Two patients developed C 5 nerve root dysfunction and 1 patient developed numbness on the index and middle fingers after surgery. All of them occurred on the concave side and recovered by conservative treatment. Conclusion:The application of distraction on the concave side in the treatment of congenitalcervical scoliosis is with good feasibility and clinical safety. Short-term follow-up showed excellent resultswith a promising future.