Abstract
Objective: To assess the clinical and radiological outcome of isolated hemivertebrae and multiple vertebral anomalies in the very young.
Design: A cohort of patients with congenital scoliosis were identified on antenatal ultrasound and followed prospectively from twenty weeks in-utero (IU) for a mean of two years (range IU – five years).
Subjects: Twenty fetuses with congenital hemivertebrae were identified from 16, 000 routine antenatal scans over a five-year period. Each was X-rayed at six weeks and investigated for renal and cardiac abnormalities.
Outcome Measures: Clinical assessment included trunk balance, neurological abnormality and associated congenital abnormalities. Radiological assessment of curve magnitude and curve progression was performed using the Cobb method. The potential for progression (based on site, degree of incarceration, growth potential and presence of a congenital bar) was assessed. In all cases a clinical and radiological assessment was made at maximal follow-up.
Results: One of the twenty fetuses aborted spontaneously at 23 weeks, three remain in-utero, leaving 16 live births. Thirteen of 20 had an isolated hemivertebra, and seven of twenty had multiple vertebral abnormalities. Two fetuses had renal agenesis, two had VATER’s syndrome and one had rib and abdominal wall abnormalities. The mean antenatal Cobb angle was 30°. IU curve progression was noted in three. Seven of the 16 live births required surgery based on curve magnitude, curve progression, truncal imbalance and the potential for progression. Surgery included anterior and posterior convex hemi-epiphyseodesis in two, and hemivertebra excision with fusion in five. The mean pre-operative Cobb angle was 36° (range 25–42) reducing to a mean of 21° (range 0–45) at maximal follow-up.
Conclusions: Multiple vertebral abnormalities were more commonly associated with renal and cardiac abnormalities. If associated with the oligohyramnios sequence the fetus appeared to be at high risk. In general US detected isolated fetal hemivertebrae carry a good prognosis, nevertheless 38% of these cases at our institution underwent surgery within the first two years of life.
Abstracts prepared by Mr. A. J. Stirling, FRCS, and Miss A. Weaver. Correspondence should be addressed to Miss A. Weaver at the Research and Teaching Centre, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK
BritSpine 2002, the second combined meeting of the British Association of Spinal Surgeons, the British Cervical Spine Society, The British Scoliosis Society and the Society for Back Pain Research, took place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham UK between 27th February and 1st March 2002. The following presentations and posters were given and displayed.
