The Surgical Management of Congenital Kyphosis and Kyphoscoliosis

Abstract

All patients with a Type I or Type III congenital kyphosis or kyphoscoliosis should be treated by a posterior arthrodesis before the age of 5 years and before the kyphosis exceeds 50 degrees. A kyphosis that does not reduce to less than 50 degrees as measured on the lateral spine radiograph made with the patient supine requires an anterior release and arthrodesis with strut grafting followed by posterior arthrodesis with instrumentation (if possible).