Clinical Outcomes of Correcting Cervical Deformity in Cerebral Palsy Patients

To assess several different cervical alignment parameters to determine the clinical relationship between cerebral palsy (CP) with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and cervical deformity.

This study included consecutive patients (N = 31) with CP CSM who underwent cervical operation between January 2006 and January 2014 and who had cervical deformities, such as angular and translational deformities. Cervical spine alignment was assessed with the following parameters: C2-7 Cobb angle, C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and T1 slope minus C2-7 Cobb angle. Other clinical values were the manual muscle test, spasticity, grip and pinch test, Box and Block test, and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test. Outcome assessments (Oswestry Neck Disability Index [NDI] and modified Barthel Index) were obtained for all patients pre- and postoperatively.

Mean follow-up duration was 3.5 years. There were 13 patients in the corrected group and 18 in the not corrected group. Angular and translational correction were 19.0° (C2-7 Cobb angle), 19.8° (T1 slope minus C2-7 Cobb angle), and 16 mm (C2-7 SVA). Postoperative NDI scores showed greater improvement in the corrected group than the uncorrected group (P = 0.049). In the corrected group, grip power increased postoperatively (8.9 ± 8.9 vs 15.5 ± 8.3; P = 0.021).

Surgical treatment for patients with CP CSM deformity helped alleviate symptoms. Postoperative NDI scores and hand function improved in patients with CP CSM deformity, especially those in the corrected group. Clinicians should consider correcting the deformity in patients with CP CSM.