Changes in cervical spine curvature in pediatric patients following occipitocervical fusion.
OBJECTIVE
The study aims to assess changes in cervical spine curvature following occipitocervical fusion (OCF) in the pediatric population.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, the angle of sagittal curvature and whole cervical spine alignment were determined in the preoperative, immediate postoperative, and follow-up radiographs in 14 patients (<20 years of age) who underwent OCF for developmental atlantoaxial instability between 1995 and 2006. At follow-up, the mean angle of sagittal curvature showed a statistically significant increase from 22+/-10.1 degrees immediately following surgery to 35.9+/-18 degrees at follow-up (p = 0.001). Six patients had exaggerated lordosis (defined as >10 degrees increase in the angle of sagittal curvature). The sagittal curvature angle did not show any worsening in seven patients following removal of the implant.


CONCLUSIONS
OCF in the pediatric population can result in an increase in the lordotic curvature of the cervical spine that might stabilize following removal of the metal implant within a year of surgery.
Moorthy
Ranjith K
RK
Department of Neurological Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632 004, India.
Rajshekhar
Vedantam
V
D000293:Adolescent; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008141:Lordosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013121:Spinal Curvatures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult