PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 16876028

Cervicothoracic kyphosis.

Praveen V Mummaneni·Harel Deutsch·Valli P Mummaneni
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Cervicothoracic kyphotic deformity may inhibit horizontal gaze function, impede activities of daily living, and induce disabling pain. Eventually, some patients develop a chin-on-chest deformity that limits their ability to eat and drink; in the end stage, a few patients also may have difficulty breathing. Progressive kyphosis can stretch the spinal cord leading to myelopathy with progressive lower extremity spasticity and weakness. Indications for surgery include myelopathy, pain, dysphagia or dyspnea owing to kyphosis, and difficulty maintaining a functional horizontal gaze. Patients with unstable cervicothoracic fractures also require surgical fixation. For these patients, surgical goals include deformity correction with restoration of an acceptable forward gaze, re-establishment of sagittal balance, decompression of the spinal cord (if myelopathic), and stable fixation.

Explore related subjects

Cervical VertebraeHumansKyphosisOrthopedic ProceduresOsteotomyThoracic VertebraeJournal ArticleReview

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Praveen V Mummaneni, Harel Deutsch, Valli P Mummaneni. 2006. Cervicothoracic kyphosis.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nec.2006.05.007

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2007

Surgical treatment of cervical kyphosis in Larsen syndrome: report of 3 cases and review of the literature.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To review the surgical results for midcervical kyphosis in 3 cases with Larsen syndrome, and to discuss the choice of surgical treatments. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical kyphosis is the most hazardous and serious manifestation of Larsen syndrome due to the risk of life-threatening paralysis, and thus usually requires surgical treatment. However, little information has been reported concerning surgical treatments for this challenging condition. METHODS: Three patients with Larsen syndrome were surgically treated for midcervical kyphosis at our institution. RESULTS: An infant with mild cervical kyphosis was successfully treated with posterior arthrodesis using a halo immobilization, and anterior vertebral growth with a mature posterior fusion mass resulted in spontaneous correction of the kyphosis. In the remaining 2 infants with myelopathic symptoms due to severe and structural kyphosis, anterior decompression and fusion via a lateral approach followed by posterior fusion with segmental spinal instrumentation and halo immobilization resulted in improved neurologic symptoms and solid fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior spinal fusion is only indicated for patients with mild and flexible cervical kyphosis, and anterior decompression and circumferential arthrodesis is required for patients with severe kyphotic deformity, who usually develop myelopathic symptoms. Anterior surgery for such a small patient with severe kyphosis involves much higher risk of spinal cord injury during decompression maneuvers and difficulty in stabilization of the reconstructed cervical spine. Therefore, all patients with Larsen syndrome should be screened with radiographs at the first visit to detect cervical kyphosis early so that posterior alone fusion is possible.

Cervical Vertebrae↗