28-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR FUSION FOR CONGENITAL KYPHOSIS - A CASE-REPORT

Study Design. Case report and long-term follow-up. Objectives. To answ er the question of whether the operation performed was worthwhile and lasting. Summary of Background Data. Congenital kyphosis due to defect s of vertebral body formation has a high incidence of paraplegia if no t surgically stabilized. Traditional posterior spine fusion failed for such problems. Methods. Radiographic and photographic evidence of the patients's problem, the combined anterior and posterior surgery, and at a 28-year follow-up available. Results. Surgery at age 13 prevented paraplegia, but also gave correction of deformity and permitted a nor mal life. Conclusions. Combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion i s a good operation with lasting value for this condition.