Posterior Kyphectomy in a Myelomeningocele Patient with Gibbous Deformity: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Myelomeningocele is a condition caused by the disjunction of neuroectoderm and ectoderm during embryogenesis. It can lead to neuronal structure disorders such as kyphosis and scoliosis, with scoliosis being more common. Kyphosis is found in 10-15% of these patients and can cause poor clinical consequences. The annual progression of Kyphosis is approximately 8 to 12 degrees. Kyphosis is a limiting factor in rehabilitation due to the inability of the patients to sit in wheelchairs and in the apex of the kyphotic region. This study aims to report a similar condition in a 14-year-old Iranian boy who underwent surgery for posterior kyphectomy. In the majority of cases with kyphosis, anterior wedging occurs in the vertebral body where the apex of the deformity is located. In the studied patient, the deformity had a round curve with no definite apex to mark out. These deformities need special surgical approaches and postoperative care.