Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Kyphectomy in Patients with Myelomeningocele Treated with a New Plate Fixation (Cardoso Plate).

This paper deals with a new spinal plate fixation for myelomeningocele following a Kyphectomy.

From September 1998 to June 2001 seventeen patients underwent a posterior dural sac exposure and wedged vertebrectomy. A curved blade plate was inserted distally and a proximal screw anchorage to the posterior vertebral bodies. Mean age at surgery was 6.4 years (2.11 to 9.6) and follow up of 2.1 years (0.7 to 3.2), and a mean kyphosis of 77º (40 to 91º). Mean correction of kyphosis was 32º (6 to 47º), two presented complications: one deep wound infection treated with instrumentation removal and rotation plasty and a skin slough in another with myocutaneous rotation plasty and instrumentataion removal. Two patients developed kyphosis above the fusion level. This method of fixation is suitable for children with a severe kyphosis and bone age of more than 4 years and requires post operative bracing and a latter longer fusion.