Standards in anterior spine surgery in pediatric patients with neuromuscular scoliosis

The authors reviewed 111 patients with neuromuscular disease who underwent anterior spine surgery for correction of scoliosis. An overall complication rate of 44.1% was found, 21.6% major and 22.5% minor. Pulmonary complicati ons were the most common major complications, urinary tract infections the most common minor complications. The rate of complications was greater in p atients with cerebral palsy, thoracoabdominal and transthoracic approaches, staged procedures, operative blood loss >1,000 mL, or previous spine surge ry In addition, statistical analysis confirmed that curve magnitude > 100 d egrees degrees was a risk factor for complications.