The results of spinal arthrodesis for congenital spinal deformity in patients younger than five years old.

We reviewed the results of spinal arthrodesis for congenital spinal deformity in forty-nine patients who were younger than five years old. The minimum follow-up was five years, and eleven patients had completed their growth. Posterior arthrodesis alone was found to be effective in most scoliotic patients. There was minimum bending of the fusion mass in most patients, almost no creation of lordosis, and minimum effect on torso-lower limb relationships. For congenital kyphosis, posterior arthrodesis was highly effective, giving better eventual correction than when both anterior and posterior arthrodesis was done.