Combined anterior and posterior convex epiphysiodesis for progressive congenital scoliosis in children aged ≤ 5 years

Summary

Six patients aged ≤ 5 years with congenital scoliosis due to vertebral malformation were treated by anterior and posterior epiphysiodesis of the convexity. In all cases the pattern of deformity was a kyphoscoliosis. The average age at operation was 3 years 6 months, average follow-up was 4 years 6 months, and average preoperative angles were 42° in the frontal and 36° in the sagittal plane. The fusion included the malformative zone and the supe rior and inferior adjacent vertebrae. Two patients had a fusion effect, three patients had a true epiphysiodesis effect, and one patient had a postoperative progression of the deformity. Epiphysiodesis of the convexity is a treatment proper for the growing period, allowing the child either to reach skeletal maturity without needing further treatment or to achieve an adequate torso height to finish the treatment with a classical vertebral arthrodesis.