Skip to main content
NCBI home page
European Spine Journal logoLink to European Spine Journal
. 1997 Jul;6(4):273–277. doi: 10.1007/BF01322451

Dystrophic kyphoscoliosis in neurofibromatosis type I: A report of two cases and review of the literature

J Vandenbroucke 1,2,✉, A van Ooy 1, C Geukers 3, A J van der Linden 1, M Hoogmartens 4
PMCID: PMC3454652  PMID: 9294753

Abstract

We report two cases of dystrophic scoliosis in neurofibromatosis, each of particular interest. In the first, kyphosis was present with vertebral rotatory subluxation but no neurologic impairment, while the second patient showed manifest paraplegia due to rapidly progressive kyphoscoliosis. The importance of early surgical stabilisation, both front and back if possible, is stressed. Very sharp curves with progressive myelopathy should not be treated with halofemoral traction because of the potential danger of evoking permanent paraplegia.

Key words: Neurofibromatosis, Scoliosis

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.6 MB).

References

  • 1.Betz R, Iorio R, Lombardi A, Clancy M, Steel H. Scoliosis surgery in neurofibromatosis. Clin Orthop. 1989;245:53–56. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Calvert PT, Edgar MA, Webb PJ. Scoliosis in neurofibromatosis. The natural history with and without operation. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1989;71-B:245–251. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.71B2.2494186. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Chaglassian JH, Riseborough EJ, Hall JE. Neurofibromatous scoliosis, natural history and results of treatment in thirty-seven cases. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1976;58-A:695–702. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Crawford AH (1986) Neurofibromatosis in children. Acta Orthop Scand 57 Suppl 218 [PubMed]
  • 5.Crawford AH. Pitfalls of spinal deformities associated with neurofibromatosis in children. Clin Orthop. 1989;245:29–42. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Curtis BH, Fisher RL, Butterfield WL, Saunders FP. Neurofibromatosis with paraplegia. Report of eight cases. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1969;51-A:843–861. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Holt RT, Johnson JR. Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation in neurofibromatosis spine curves. A preliminary report. Clin Orthop. 1989;245:19–23. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Rezaian SM. The incidence of scoliosis due to neurofibromatosis. Acta Orthop Scand. 1976;47:534–539. doi: 10.3109/17453677608988733. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Rockower S, McKay D, Nason S. Dislocation of the spine in neurofibromatosis. A report of two cases. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1982;64-A:1240–1242. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Savini R, Vicenzi G. Deformities of the spine in neurofibromatosis. Clinical and radiographic study in 46 cases. Ital J Orthop Traumatol. 1976;2:37–50. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Savini R, Parisini P, Cervellati S, Gualdrini G. Surgical treatment of vertebral deformities in neurofibromatosis. Ital J Orthop Traumatol. 1983;9:13–24. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Shufflebarger HL. Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation in neurofibromatosis spinal problems. Clin Orthop. 1989;245:24–28. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Stone JW, Bridwell KH, Shackelford GD, Abramson CL. Dural ectasia associated with spontaneous dislocation of the upper part of the thoracic spine in neurofibromatosis. A case report and review of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1987;69-A:1079–1083. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Winter RB. Spontaneous dislocation of a vertebra in a patient who had neurofibromatosis. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1991;73-A:1402–1404. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Winter RB, Moe JH, Bradford DS, Lonstein JE, Pedras CV, Weber AH. Spine deformity in neurofibromatosis. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1979;61-A:677–694. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from European Spine Journal are provided here courtesy of Springer-Verlag

RESOURCES