Surgical correction of spinal deformity in cerebral palsy.

Thirteen patients with cerebral palsy underwent surgical correction of spinal deformity at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston. Arthrodesis of the spine was achieved in all cases. Staged anterior fusion and instrumentation with posterior instrumentation and fusion increased the amount of curve correction and reduced the pseudarthrosis rate. All patients with back pain had their pain eliminated following fusion. In all patients, curve progression was arrested, and the objective of improved sitting or standing balance was achieved.