Combined anterior and posterior spine fusion in cerebral palsy

Two-staged anterior and posterior spine fusion with instrumentation was evaluated in 17 cerebral palsy patients, ages 11 to 30 years. Functional benefits included improved sitting balance and, in ambulators, no loss of independence. Curve correction averaged 60%. The pseudarthrosis rate of 18% was lower than previously reported for patients with anterior or posterior fusions alone. Instrumentation complications occurred in 50% of patients with athetosis. The combined anterior and posterior fusion for thoracolumbar and lumbar curves appeared to give the best correction, highest rate of fusion, and fewest complications in this complex patient group.