Two-Stage Procedure Planning for the Surgical Correction of Severe Congenital Kyphosis: A Technical Case Report

Abstract

Congenital kyphosis is a less common spinal malformation, which can progress and cause neurological deficits. The treatment of severe cases is complicated. There are several techniques of surgical intervention for the correction of kyphosis, but the selection of surgical methods is entirely dependent on the patient’s condition. This article reports a 14-year-old girl with severe congenital kyphosis, who underwent hemiepiphysiodesis at age 2. Last year, her neurological deterioration began and led to paraplegia over a couple of months. To treat her, we performed 2-stage multi-level vertebral column resection (Schwab type 6). First, she underwent anterior T12-L1-L2 complete corpectomy and cord decompression. Then, the resection of posterior elements from T12 to L2 and posterior fusion with instrumentation from T8 to L5 were performed. However, concerning this kind of severe deformity, we suggest using 3D planning, which facilitates the operation.