title: Screening for spinal stenosis in achondroplastic patients undergoing limb lengthening.
abstract: The need for a screening programme for spinal stenosis in children with achondroplasia undergoing limb lengthening was identified in a tertiary limb reconstruction service. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether screening would identify the 'at risk' group. A total of 26 achondroplastic patients underwent our screening programme. Canal diameters were measured by MRI. Neurosurgical interventions were recorded. Of the patients, 13 had severe foramen magnum narrowing. Six patients required single or multiple surgical decompressions. We identified female sex, delayed milestones and a tight cervicomedullary junction as high risks. We stress upon the importance of developing a nationalized screening programme with guidelines to identify a high-risk group.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Limb Reconstruction Service, Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Kailash L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Devalia
authors.forename: Prem
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moras
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pagdin
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mcmullan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001852:Bone Lengthening; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology