Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities of neural axis in Lenke type 1 idiopathic scoliosis.
METHODS
Patients with Lenke type 1 single thoracic idiopathic scoliosis were included in this prospective study. All patients had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


OBJECTIVE
To examine the frequency of neural axis abnormalities and the need for preoperative MRI in this group of patients.


BACKGROUND
Because of the increasing use of MRI, neural axis abnormalities have been reported in association with certain clinical and radiologic findings in idiopathic scoliosis cases.


METHODS
A total of 104 patients (49 juvenile onset and 55 adolescent onset), older than 10 years, were included in the study. The association of neural axis abnormalities with pes cavus, abnormal deep tendon reflexes, age of onset, presence of pain, severity of the frontal plane deformity, and sagittal contours were investigated.


RESULTS
All 7 patients with a neural axis abnormality on MRI had an early onset disease, and 6 of them had back pain. Thus, age of onset and back pain seem to be predictive of these abnormalities. Frequency of MRI abnormalities was as high as 45% for patients with back pain in addition to a type IC curve.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with juvenile idiopathic scoliosis and back pain, preoperative MRI should be performed to eliminate the risk of postoperative neurologic deficits, even if the scoliosis is Lenke type 1. However, in patients with Lenke type 1 idiopathic scoliosis, preoperative MRI studies seem unnecessary if intraoperative neural monitoring is to be performed.
Benli
I Teoman
IT
1st Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ankara Social Security Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. cutku@ada.net.tr
Uzümcügil
Onat
O
Aydin
Erbil
E
Ateş
Bülent
B
Gürses
Levent
L
Hekimoğlu
Baki
B
D000293:Adolescent; D001416:Back Pain; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*