Biomaterial Database

Congenital and developmental deformities of the spine in children with myelomeningocele. 2006

James T Guille, and John F Sarwark, and Henry H Sherk, and S Jay Kumar

Shriners Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.

The treatment of spinal deformities in children with myelomeningocele poses a formidable task. Multiple medical comorbidities, such as insensate skin and chronic urinary tract infection, make care of the spine difficult. A thorough understanding of the natural history of these deformities is mandatory for appropriate treatment to be rendered. A team approach that includes physicians from multiple specialties provides the best care for these patients. The two most challenging problems are paralytic scoliosis and rigid lumbar kyphosis. The precise indications for surgical intervention are multifactorial, and the proposed benefits must be weighed against the potential risks. Newer spinal constructs now allow for fixation of the spine in areas previously difficult to instrument. Complications appear to be decreasing with improved understanding of the pathophysiology associated with myelomeningocele.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007738	Kyphosis	Deformities of the SPINE characterized by an exaggerated convexity of the vertebral column. The forward bending of the thoracic region usually is more than 40 degrees. This deformity sometimes is called round back or hunchback.	Hyperkyphosis,Hyperkyphoses,Kyphoses
D008591	Meningomyelocele	Congenital, or rarely acquired, herniation of meningeal and spinal cord tissue through a bony defect in the vertebral column. The majority of these defects occur in the lumbosacral region. Clinical features include PARAPLEGIA, loss of sensation in the lower body, and incontinence. This condition may be associated with the ARNOLD-CHIARI MALFORMATION and HYDROCEPHALUS. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1992, Ch55, pp35-6)	Myelocele,Myelomeningocele,Acquired Meningomyelocele,Myelomeningocele, Acquired,Acquired Meningomyeloceles,Acquired Myelomeningocele,Acquired Myelomeningoceles,Meningomyelocele, Acquired,Meningomyeloceles,Meningomyeloceles, Acquired,Myeloceles,Myelomeningoceles,Myelomeningoceles, Acquired
D010027	Osteotomy	The surgical cutting of a bone. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Osteotomies
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011542	Pseudarthrosis	A pathologic entity characterized by deossification of a weight-bearing long bone, followed by bending and pathologic fracture, with inability to form normal BONY CALLUS leading to existence of the "false joint" that gives the condition its name. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Pseudoarthrosis,Pseudarthroses,Pseudoarthroses
D001848	Bone Diseases, Developmental	Diseases resulting in abnormal GROWTH or abnormal MORPHOGENESIS of BONES.	Bone Dysplasias,Developmental Bone Disease,Bone Disease, Developmental,Bone Dysplasia,Developmental Bone Diseases,Dysplasia, Bone,Dysplasias, Bone
D001915	Braces	Orthopedic appliances used to support, align, or hold parts of the body in correct position. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Brace
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012600	Scoliosis	An appreciable lateral deviation in the normally straight vertical line of the spine. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Scolioses