Congenital Scoliosis of the Pediatric Cervical Spine: Characterization of a 17-Patient Operative Cohort.

Background: Congenital cervical scoliosis is rare, and there is a paucity of literature describing surgical outcomes. We report surgical outcomes in a 17-patient cohort with surgical correction for congenital cervical scoliosis and identify risk factors associated with complications.
Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from a single-center cohort of 17 consecutive patients (9 boys, 8 girls) receiving surgical deformity correction for congenital cervical scoliosis. The mean age at surgery was 7.1±3.4 years with an average follow-up of 3.6±1.1 years.
Results: There were 24 operations performed on 17 patients, and 4 complications (17%) were reported in the series, including one each of pressure ulcer, asystole, vertebral artery injury, and pseudarthrosis. The mean preoperative major curve angle was 36±20 degrees, which improved to 24±14 degrees (P=0.02). The mean operative time was 8±2 hours with a mean estimated blood loss of 298±690 mL. Halo-gravity traction was used in 5 patients and 6 cases were staged with anterior/posterior procedures.
Conclusions: Congenital scoliosis of the cervical spine is a complex process. The spinal deformity of this nature can be managed successfully with carefully planned and executed surgical correction.
Level of Evidence: Level IV-retrospective review.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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