Treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis with posterior-only pedicle screw fixation

Abstract Background To determine whether posterior-only approach using pedicle screws in neuromuscular scoliosis population adequately addresses the correction of scoliosis and maintains the correction over time. Methods Between 2003 and 2006, 26 consecutive patients (7 cerebral palsy, 10 Duchenne muscular dystrophy, 5 spinal muscular atrophy and 4 others) with neuromuscular scoliosis underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation for the deformity. Preoperative, immediate postoperative and final follow-up Cobb's angle and pelvic obliquity were analyzed on radiographs. The average age of the patients was 17.5 years (range, 8–44 years) and the average follow-up was 25 months (18–52 months). Results Average Cobb's angle was 78.53° before surgery, 30.70° after surgery (60.9% correction), and 33.06° at final follow-up (57.9% correction) showing significant correction (p Conclusion Results indicate that in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis, acceptable amounts of curve correction can be achieved and maintained with posterior-only pedicle screw instrumentation without anterior release procedure.