Perioperative considerations in infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy

Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy is a rare neurological disorder that is universally fatal with life expectancy under 10 years. A 10-year-old boy with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy and severe neuromuscular scoliosis underwent posterior spinal fusion following halo traction. He was successfully extubated to bilevel positive airway pressure on postoperative day 3 and discharged home on postoperative day 11. Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy presents several perioperative challenges including concerns for difficult intubation and respiratory dysfunction.