Congenital spinal deformity: a comprehensive assessment at presentation.
METHODS
A series of 126 consecutive patients with congenital spinal deformity is presented.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the incidence of intraspinal anomaly and other organic defects associated with different types of spine deformity at presentation.


BACKGROUND
A high incidence of intraspinal abnormalities and other organ defects is reported in relation to congenital spine deformity. The prevalence of these problems with different types of deformities is to be determined.


METHODS
All patients had MRI, echocardiography, renal ultrasound, and a thorough clinical assessment.


RESULTS
Intraspinal abnormalities were found in 47 patients (37%). These abnormalities were significantly more common in patients with congenital kyphosis ( = 0.0048), and in those with scoliosis resulting from mixed and segmentation defects. Scoliosis patients with cervical and thoracic hemivertebrae had significantly more intraspinal abnormalities ( = 0.0253) than those with lumbar hemivertebrae. In 64 (55%) patients other organic defects were found. These defects were more common in patients with congenital scoliosis resulting from mixed defects ( = 0.002). Cardiac defects were detected in 26% and urogenital anomalies in 21% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography should be an essential part in the evaluation of patients with congenital spinal deformity, and special attention should be paid to patients with segmentation abnormalities, mixed defects, and kyphosis.
Basu
Partha S
PS
Orthopaedic Specialist Registrar, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK.
Elsebaie
Hazem
H
Noordeen
M H H
MH
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013131:Spine / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology