Preliminary results of the bipolar technique in the treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis

Abstract

Objective: To present the preliminary results of the bipolar technique for the surgical treatment of neuromuscular spine deformities. Methods: Five patients with neuromuscular scoliosis (cerebral palsy - 3 patients, spinal amyotrophy - 1 patient, and genetic syndrome - 1 patient) underwent surgical treatment using the bipolar technique and were evaluated 12 months after the operation. Results: General care and the ability to sit improved in all patients. The main curve ranged from 64.7 to 84.1 degrees (mean 70.58 ± 7.1) in the preoperative period and from 2.6 to 50.3 degrees (mean 25.50 ± 16.0) in the postoperative period with 64% correction. Corrections of pelvic obliquity (85%), T4-T12 kyphosis (43%), the Pisa angle (69%) and the sacroclavicular angle (60%) were observed 12 months following surgery. Postoperative infection (2 patients) and pneumonia (1 patient) were the complications observed. Conclusion: The bipolar technique presented good clinical and radiological results associated with low morbidity in the treatment of neuromuscular spine deformities.