Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of All Pedicle Screw Posterior-Only Surgery in Patients with Dystrophic Neurofibromatosis Scoliosis

Abstract

Background Data: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) patients with dystrophic changes of the spine develop severe spinal deformity and/or instability and always need early surgical treatment. Combined anterior-posterior fusion was the treatment of choice of such curves because of the risk of progression and pseudoarthrosis even in the presence of solid posterior fusion mass. Recent 3rd-generation posterior stabilization systems using pedicle screw fixation allow better 3-column purchase and 3D control and correction of deformity and stable posterior fixation of the spine preventing progression of the curves. Posterior-only surgery has been recently used in dystrophic NF-1 scoliosis due to use of pedicle screws fixation and development of different types of posterior release/osteotomies which lead to successful and sustained correction of these curves. Study Design: A retrospective clinical cohort study. Purpose