Congenital Kyphosis

Types (as with scoliosis):

  1. Failure of Formation (Type 1)
  2. Failure of Segmentation (Type 2)
  3. Mixed

Failure of Formation (Type 1)

  • Has the highest rate of progression and neurologic injury of any spinal deformity.
  • Causes acute kyphosis.
  • High association (>50%) with neural anomaly.

Management

Non-Operative:

  • Type 2 curves can be observed with monitoring.

Operative Indications:

  • Neurologic deficit.
  • >50-degree curve in children under 5 years with a Type 1 curve.
  • Progression of any other type curve.

Surgical Procedure:

  • Posterior instrumented fusion.
    • Essentially a posterior hemiepiphysiodesis.
  • Add anterior decompression if there is a neurologic deficit.
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