Study design: A retrospective review.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess correction of pelvic obliquity in children with cerebral palsy (CP) scoliosis postoperatively and 5 years after posterior spinal fusion with pelvic fixation using unit rods, sacral-alar-iliac (SAI) screws, or iliac screws.
Summary of background data: There are multiple options for pelvic fixation in children with scoliosis secondary to CP. The long-term differences in outcomes between these fixation methods are still unclear.
Methods: A multicenter review identified records of 70 children with CP who underwent posterior spinal fusion for scoliosis using unit rods (n = 9), SAI screws (n = 19), or iliac screws (n = 42). Patients younger than 18 years with 5-year follow-up were included. Pelvic obliquity and major coronal curve measurements were compared using preoperative, (first erect) postoperative, and 5-year follow-up radiographs. Implant-related complications were noted. Alpha = 0.05.
Results: For all groups, there was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative pelvic obliquity that was maintained at 5 years. At 5-year follow-up, pelvic obliquity was significantly higher in the IS group (12°) compared with the unit rod group (4°, P = 0.001) and SAI screw group (6°) (P = 0.006). Implant-related complications were as follows: unit rod group, one patient (reoperation); SAI screw group, none; iliac screw group, six patients, including three cases of loss of connection between the rod and the iliac screw, two prominent screws, and one loose screw.
Conclusion: Correction of pelvic obliquity for children with CP-related scoliosis was achieved postoperatively using unit rods, SAI screws, and iliac screws. Implant-related complications and reoperations were most common in the iliac screw group. At 5-year follow-up, the iliac screw group had loss of major curve correction and less correction of pelvic obliquity than the unit rod and SAI screw groups.
Level of evidence: 3.