Sacral-Alar-Iliac Fixation in Children with Neuromuscular Scoliosis: Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up

Objective To investigate the 5-year outcomes of children with neuromuscular scoliosis treated with sacral-alar-iliac screws. Methods We reviewed clinical and radiographic records of patients aged ≤18 years treated by 1 pediatric orthopedic surgeon for neuromuscular scoliosis with spinal fusion using sacral-alar-iliac pelvic anchors. Thirty-eight patients with a minimum 5-year radiographic follow-up (mean, 6.0 ± 1.2 years) were studied. The mean patient age was 13 ± 2.0 years, and 47% were female. The mean number of levels fused was 18 ± 0.7. Two-thirds (66%) of the patients were diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Results Between the preoperative period and final follow-up, the patients exhibited a mean correction of the major coronal curve of 79% (preoperative, 85° to final, 18°) and a mean 57% correction of the pelvic obliquity (preoperative, 16° to final, 7°). Patients maintained the correction of mean pelvic obliquity from the early postoperative period (6°) to final follow-up (7°). Preoperatively, 76% of the patients had a pelvic obliquity of >10°, compared with 26% of patients postoperatively. There were no cases of neurologic or vascular complications or pseudarthrosis. Radiographs revealed bilateral sacral-alar-iliac screw lucency in 8 patients; 4 of these patients had deep wound infections, and the other 4 were asymptomatic. Unilateral screw fracture was found in 1 patient with an 8-mm-diameter screw (1.3%; 1 of 76 screws); the patient was observed and remained asymptomatic. There were no cases of set screw displacement, screw back-out, or rod dislodgement. Conclusions Sacral-alar-iliac screws are safe and effective pelvic anchors for use in children with neuromuscular scoliosis.