Treatment of severe kyphosis in myelomeningocele by segmental spinal instrumentation with Luque rods.

Myelomeningocele leads to kyphosis of the dysplastic spine in 12-20% of cases, resulting in a severe gibbus. In three patients (at the age of 9, 13 and 16 years) with a thoracolumbar kyphosis (90 degrees, 120 degrees and 95 degrees respectively), and a compensatory thoracic lordosis (35 degrees, 105 degrees and 90 degrees) a resection or a wedge osteotomy of the gibbus was performed with segmental sublaminar wire fixation to Luque rods. In addition, a spondylodesis with autogenous bone and an allograft was performed. Correction of the kyphosis (to 30 degrees, 60 degrees and 50 degrees) and lordosis (to 15 degrees, 65 degrees and 55 degrees) was attained. This posterior procedure was sufficient for correction; there was no need for an anterior release. Cord and dura were left intact. During follow-up (27, 60 and 30 months) no progression of the curves has been noted. This one-stage posterior correction with L-rod fixation proved to be a method of choice for this difficult-to-treat spinal deformity.