RESUMEN
Objective To explore the role of transvertebral transposition of the spinal cord in the treatment of the pa?tients suffering from angular kyphoscoliosis with neurologic deficit. Methods Twelve patients with at least 1 year follow?up, in?cluding 5 females and 7 males, suffering from neurologic deficit secondary to angular kyphoscoliosis underwent transvertebral transposition of the spinal cord and posterior correction from January 2005 to June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The initial age averaged 21±14 years. The etiologies of deformity were congenital kyphoscoliosis in 9 patients, idiopathic kyphoscoliosis in 3 patients. Preoperative spinal cord function graded by Frankel criteria was 3 cases of grade C and 9 of grade D. The initial major curve was 79.4°±16.2° with a global kyphosis of 68.3°±25.0°. The change of distance between spinal cord and canal on the convex side at the apex was measured on MR images to evaluate the efficacy of transposition;in addition, Cobb angle on coronal and sagit?tal plane was evaluated before surgery, on discharge and at the last follow?up. Results All patients were followed up for 2 years on average (1-5 years). The post operation spinal function evaluated by Frankel criteria were as follow:with grade C of 1 case, grade D of 4 cases and grade E of 7 (7 cases changed one grade, 1 case changed two grades, 4 cases did not change obvious). At the last follow?up, all the cases got obvious recovery of spinal function, with 1 case of grade C and 11 of grade D (10 cases changed one grade, 2 cases changed two grades). The distance between spinal cord and canal on the convex side at the apex changed from 11.9±6.4 mm to 9.8±6.9 mm. After surgery, the major curve improved to 39.3°±15.1° with 50.3%±20.5%correction rate, and the mean loss of correction was 6.1%±7.5%. The mean kyphosis was 41.3°±16.6°, demonstrating a 39.0%±13.0%correction rate im?mediately after operation, and showing 3.1%±4.2%correction loss at the final follow?up. No neurologic complications or no death occurred intra?and post?operatively. No screw or rod fracture, instrumentation loosening and pseudarthrosis were found during fol?low?up. Conclusion Transvertebral transposition of the spinal cord and posterior correction is a useful procedure for the recovery of neurologic deficit secondary to angular kyphoscoliosis, with good results of deformity correction.