Late paraparesis due to pseudarthrosis after posterior spinal fusion.

The authors report three cases in which paraparesis related to a pseudarthrosis occurred several years after a posterior spinal fusion, but with a different mechanism (stretching of the spinal cord for progression of the deformity in kyphosis in two cases, and spinal cord compression for bone overgrowth within the canal in the site of pseudarthrosis in the third patient). Treatment was different. Partial correction of the deformity and stabilization of the spine by combined fusion (anterior and posterior) was sufficient in the first two cases for a complete neurological recovery. Posterior spinal cord decompression and stabilization of the spine by combined fusion was necessary for complete recovery in the third.