Cerebral Palsy with Scoliosis, a Less Invasive Way of Correcting the Curve

Description

When this patient with cerebral palsy first came to Dr. Bridwell, he recommended that she wear a body brace to help slow down the progression of her curves. However, even with the brace, her curves got worse. Her thoracic spine (the area near the rib cage and shoulder blades) curved to 47º, and her lumbar spine (waistline level between the rib cage and pelvis) curved to 72º. The curves were interfering with her lungs and made it difficult for her to breathe easily.

Treatment

Dr. Bridwell first tried bracing, but when that didn’t work, he recommended surgery.  He did a posterior spinal fusion to correct her spinal curves.  He used pedicle screws in the spine, and then he attached rods to the pedicle screws.  The screws and rods held and stabilized the spine while the bones healed and fused.

This was a very extensive surgery.  Dr. Bridwell placed screws in the lumbar spine and at the top of the thoracic spine.  The rods were long and went all the way from the thoracic spine to the lumbar spine, but this patient needed such an extensive fusion.  The cerebral palsy weakens her spinal muscles so that they can't properly support the spine; the fusion should keep it from curving so much.

After the surgery, Dr. Bridwell had the patient wear a custom-molded body brace for a year to support spine while it fused.

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Result

The patient’s curves improved significantly at 5 years post-op. It’s easier for her to breathe now, and she isn’t as congested.