Cervical instability in skeletal dysplasia. Report of 6 surgically fused cases.
Six patients with skeletal dysplasias complicated by deformity or instability of the cervical spine were reviewed. Three patients had congenital spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia and 1 each suffered from Morquio's syndrome, pseudoachondroplasia, and chondrodystrophia calcificans congenita. Four patients had myelopathy of varying severity from slight weakness of one leg to tetraplegia. At a mean age of 6 (3-11) years, they underwent posterior fusion and immobilization in a halo brace. In all the cases the extent of postoperative neurologic recovery was, however, limited. Our cases illustrate the need of early diagnosis and fusion of cervical instability.
Svensson
O
O
Department of Orthopedics, Karolinska Institute University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden.
Aaro
S
S
D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000150:complications*; D001915:Braces; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D013123:Spinal Fusion