Analysis of vertebrotomy treatment in children with congenital scoliosis with unsegmented rod and rib synostosis

BACKGROUND: Congenital anomalies of vertebral development account for 2%–11% of cases in the general structure of nosologies that cause spinal deformity. An unsegmented rod (unilateral violation of vertebral segmentation) is attributed to a prognostically unfavorable malformation. Rib synostosis causes the development of thoracic insufficiency syndrome. AIM: To analyze the results of treatment of children with congenital scoliosis caused by an unsegmented rod and rib synostosis by vertebrotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cohort, retrospective, monocenter study evaluated the treatment results of 55 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1, children aged 2–8 years, the scope of intervention was wedge-shaped osteotomy of a non-segmented rod at the apex of the deformity, and group 2, children aged 8–18 years, the scope of intervention was wedge-shaped osteotomy at the apex of the deformity and two linear osteotomies of a non-segmented rod in the cranial and caudal directions. Clinical, radiological, and statistical research methods were used. RESULTS: Significant correction of scoliosis was achieved in 65.5% of patients aged 2–7 years (group 1) and 56.3% in children aged 8–18 years (group 2). Hypokyphosis of the thoracic spine was observed in the patients. The percentage of correction of kyphosis was 21.1% in group 1 and 19.1% in group 2. Lung volume increased by 27.9% (p = 0.01776) in group 1, and lung volume on the concave side increased by 23.5% (p = 0.04975) and on the convex side by 29.6% (p = 0.01073). Improvement in the overall respiratory impedance reached 47.3% (p 0.05). In group 2, a insignificant increase was found in VVC by 12.6% (p = 0.3509) and FEV1 by 8.7% of the initial (p = 0.1534), as well as an increase in total lung volume of 13.3% (p = 0.1527) and the contribution of the lung along the concave side of 18.8% (p = 0.1535), and the lung along the convex side was 8.4% (p = 0.169), indicating no significant impact on lung development and function. CONCLUSIONS: In children with spinal deformity caused by a non-segmented rod with normal respiratory function, vertebrotomy at the apex of the deformity with subsequent correction and stabilization of the spinal deformity is recommended. Performing simultaneous multilevel osteotomies of a non-segmented rod allows for significant correction of rigid spinal deformity.