1043-3155 Pediatr Neurol Briefs pedneurbriefs Pediatr Neurol Briefs Pediatric Neurology Briefs Pediatr Neurol Briefs 2166-6482 1043-3155 2166-3155 Pediatric Neurology Briefs Publishers Chicago, IL, USA PNB-12-42-b 10.15844/pedneurbriefs-12-6-3 Neonatal Disorders Neurology Pediatrics Nervous System Diseases Child Development Brain Diseases Neurosurgery Child Infant Scoliosis in Spastic Cerebral Palsy http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0173-7931 Millichap J. Gordon MD 1 2 * Division of Neurology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL Correspondence: Dr. J. Gordon Millichap, E-mail: jgmillichap@northwestern.edu 06 1998 01 05 2016 12 6 42 43 Copyright: © 1998 The Author(s) 1998 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Natural history of scoliosis in spastic cerebral palsy

The natural history and risk factors for progressive severe scoliosis were evaluated in 37 institutionalized spastic cerebral palsy patients followed at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, and at Centers in Nagano, Japan.

 Orthopaedic Surgery Spastic Cerebral Palsy Surgical Intervention

The natural history and risk factors for progressive severe scoliosis were evaluated in 37 institutionalized spastic cerebral palsy patients followed at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, and at Centers in Nagano, Japan. Scoliosis started before age 10 yrs and progressed rapidly during the growth period, reaching a 60° magnitude by 17 yrs. Those with scoliosis >60° were bedridden and had thoracolumbar curves. Risk factors for progression of scoliosis in spastic cerebral palsy are: a spinal curve of 40° before age 15 yrs; total body involvement; being bedridden; a thoracolumbar curve. Early surgical intervention to prevent progression is recommended in patients with these risk factors. [1]

COMMENT. Reports indicate that bracing is frequently ineffective for scoliosis with cerebral palsy and surgery is advocated in severe cases. Fusion is intended to facilitate sitting and standing, improve pulmonary and upper limb function, and benefit nursing procedures. The above study provides guidelines for early surgical intervention.

Saito N Ebara S Ohotsuka K Kumeta H Takaoka K Natural history of scoliosis in spastic cerebral palsy Lancet 1998 Jun 6 351 9117 1687 92 9734885 10.1016/S0140-6736(98)01302-6