Background:

Congenital scoliosis caused by failure of multiply vertebral segmentation with concave fused rib or unsegmented bar combined with contralateralhemivertebra is usually rigid and produces enormous asymmetric growth. Fusionless techniques have less advantage and come with some complications. Paucity of data was reported for children with complex congenital scoliosis using two-staged osteotomy surgery.

Methods:

From 2006 to 2016, 11 patients less than 10 years old undergoing two staged osteotomy surgery for complex rigid congenital scoliosis were retrospectively reviewed. The analysis included age at initial surgery, second surgery and at the latest follow-up, and complications. Changes in coronal major curve, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lodorsis, apex vertebra translation, T1-T12 length, T1-S1 length, trunk shift, and SVAwere included in radiological evaluation.

Results:

In all, the mean follow-up was 72.5 ± 23.8 (42 to 112) months. The mean flexibility of the spine was 17.4 and 17.8 % before two surgeries. The mean age at the initial surgery was 6.6 ± 2.6 (2.5-10) years. The mean fusion level was 4.6 ± 1.3 (2 to 6) segments. The mean scoliosis improved from 67.4° to 23.7° after initial surgery and was 17.4° at the latest follow-up. The average increase of T1-S1 length was 0.92 cm per year. No patients had neurological complications.

Conclusions:

Two-staged osteotomy surgery including hemivertebrae resection or Y-shaped osteotomy can achieve good radiological and clinical outcomes without severe complications. This procedure can be an option of treatment for complex congenital scoliosis.