Adolescent idiopathic cervical kyphosis:grade and treatment / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the appropriate treatment according to the grading system of adolescent idiopathic cervical kyphosis.Methods A retrospective study was performed in 115 adolescent patients with idiopathic cervical kyphosis.The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the magnitude of kyphosis.The initial Cobb angle of 4 groups were 12.7°±1.4° 25.4°±4.8°,47.2°±4.4° and 62.6°±5.7° respectively.The patients in group I were treated with the collar support for 4-8 weeks.The patients in group Ⅱ were treated with skull traction (3-5 kg) and then fixed by cranio-cervical-thoracic plaster.According to the angles between the tangents of posterior vertebral body at each level on lateral cervical radiograph in extension,the anterior fusion levels of the group Ⅲ and angles and range of osteotomy in the group Ⅳ were decided.In group Ⅳ,the patients were treated by two steps.The anterior release and posterior osteotomy were performed firstly.Then skull traction (1/10 body weight) was maintained in order to correct the deformity for 7-10 days,fusion and anterior fusion with autologous bone graft and internal fixation was completed.Results Post-operative radiograph showed that Cobb angle were -5.5°±2.0°,-8.2°±6.1°,-4.5°±6.6° and -2.9°±7.9° in Ⅰ-Ⅳ group after treatment.The deformed appearance of the patients improved significantly.A improvement neck pain and neurologic function were found in all patients.Post-operative MRI showed that physiological curve of the cervical spine was restored,and the cerebrospinal fluid line was clear in the previous kyphosis area.Conclusion Adolescent idiopathic cervical kyphosis has specific characteristics.Surgical strategy is determined by the severity of deformity.