OBJECTIVETo discuss the prevention and management of the neurological complications during treatment for severe scoliosis.

METHODSSeventy-one patients with the coronal Cobb angle more than 80 degrees underwent operation. The average coronal Cobb angle was 96.6 degrees (80 degrees - 135 degrees ), and 31 patients combined with kyphotic deformity with average sagittal Cobb angle 83.0 degrees (52 degrees - 145 degrees ). Fourteen patients were treated with posterior pedicle screw fixation alone, 21 combined with posterior wedge resection, 34 with staged operation, and 2 with combined anterior and posterior approach. Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) monitoring and wake up test were used in 61 cases, and wake up test was used alone in 10 cases.

RESULTSThe average coronal curve correction was 59.2% (average 39.6 degrees ) and sagittal curve correction was 61.6% (average 31.9 degrees ). Thirty-nine patients were followed up with average 51 months (5 - 81 months). Among them, 33 patients achieved solid spinal fusion and the rate of correction loss was 2.1%. Two patients underwent reoperation because of the breakages of the internal fixation. Among 8 patients with neurological dysfunction pre-operatively, 3 patients obtained complete recovery, 1 patient incomplete recovery, and the rest had not recovered because of post-poliomyelitis syndrome. Four of 5 patients developed neurological dysfunction post-operatively obtained complete recovery and 1 partial recovery.

CONCLUSIONSHalo-pelvic distraction and apical vertebra osteotomy are useful for increasing the correction rate and decreasing the neurological dysfunction. Intraoperative SEP monitoring combined with wake up test can call attention to early nerve injury. Early using of glucocorticoids and dehydration therapy promptly post-operatively is benefit to prevent neurological complications.