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Abstract Background The recommended treatment for mild to moderate infantile idiopathic scoliosis curves involves serial casting. There are concerns, however, regarding the safety of repeated casting in very young children owing to the requirement for anesthetization during the casting process. Very little research has been conducted on the influence of bracing as an initial treatment for scoliosis in this age group. This report details the successful treatment of a large thoracic curve using a thoracolumbosacral orthosis in an infant diagnosed with infantile idiopathic scoliosis. Case presentation The Dutch-Australian patient presented at 11 weeks of age with a 44° thoracic scoliosis and a rib vertebral angle difference of 14°. The history and physical examination failed to reveal a cause of the curvature, and a diagnosis of infantile idiopathic scoliosis was made. The patient was prescribed a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (ScoliBrace) to be worn on a part-time basis for a period of 8 months. At the end of the bracing program, the patient’s curve had been reduced to 7° and a rib–vertebral angle difference of 0°. A final follow-up of the patient at 2 years after the cessation of treatment revealed no evidence of scoliosis. The parents were compliant with the bracing protocol and reported that the treatment was tolerated by the infant. Conclusion The use of an orthosis as a standalone treatment in this patient resulted in significant reduction in a large thoracic scoliosis. Based on the results witnessed in this patient, further investigation into bracing as an alternative to casting is warranted.

Abstract Background Serial casting is a treatment for early onset scoliosis (EOS) in young children to achieve curve correction before bracing or to postpone initial surgical treatment until the patient is older. Good results have been reported for patients with idiopathic early onset scoliosis (IS). However, there are few reports of results in non-idiopathic cases, and the benefits of non-surgical methods in the syndromic-associated early onset scoliosis subgroup are unknown. Methods Retrospective single-institution study of patient charts and X-rays of all cases of sustained serial casting for EOS. Staged correction was obtained by applying three consecutive casts under general anaesthesia. These were changed every 4 weeks, followed by the implementation of a custom-made full-time Chêneau brace. Correction was measured by Cobb angle (CA) and rib-vertebra angle difference (RVAD) on whole spine anterior-posterior radiographs. Statistical analysis was performed via ANOVA. Results The study group consisted of 6 patiens with IS and 10 with non-idiopathic scoliosis (NIS) – exclusively syndromic-associated. The mean age at onset of treatment was 35 months (±15). The mean follow up was 21 months (±15). In IS patients average CA/RVAD before treatment was 46°(±8)/20°(±12). In NIS patients average CA/RVAD before treatment was 55°(±15)/24°(±14). After application of the third cast, the CA/RVAD was reduced to 20°(±11)/11°(±10) in IS patients. Whereas in NIS patients average CA/RVAD after the thrid cast was 28°(±12)/18°(±13). At latest follow-up the CA/RVAD was 16°(±7)/9°(±8) in IS patients and 31°(±11)/17° (±15) in NIS patients. Conclusion Syndromic etiology is not a contraindication for serial casting in EOS. Our results show a curve correction, measured in CA, of 65% in IS patients and 44% in NIS patients. Significant reduction in the morphologic deformity, measured in RVAD, was achieved in the IS cohort, but not in the NIS cohort. In all cases surgical treatment could be delayed.

Objective. To analyze results of final surgical treatment for scoliosis in the first decade of life. Material and Methods. In 2008–2016, a total of 95 patients with infantile and juvenile scoliosis were operated on using VEPTR instrumentation. The final stage of surgical treatment was performed in 14 patients (9 girls, 5 boys). The average age at the start of treatment was 5.4 ± 2.1 years, average follow-up period – 2 years (6–36 months). Results. Average value of the primary scoliotic curve before surgery was 83.0° ± 14.8°, thoracic kyphosis 41.1° ± 11.9°, lumbar lordosis 49.5° ± 4.9°. At the last follow-up average value of the primary scoliotic curve was reduced to 56.8° ± 14.1°, thoracic kyphosis to 24.5° ± 8.5°, lumbar lordosis to 38.4° ± 5.1° (p < 0.05). Space available for lung before surgery was 84.5 ± 8.7 %, after surgery 94.8 ± 6.7 %, at the last follow-up it increased to 98.6 ± 5.4 %. Complications included 9 cases of instability of implant anchors and 1 case of suppuration. There were no neurological complications. Conclusion. Stage correction using different instrumentations is a method of choice for surgical treatment of infantile and juvenile scoliosis.

The tactics of surgical treatment of patients with spinal deformities associated with multiple malformations is of great importance because of aggressive course of disease, limited opportunities for radical correction of deformity, and a high risk of complications. The review analyzes the literature devoted to this problem. The theoretical basis behind the need for surgical treatment is considered. The current methods of surgical intervention are presented, and their principal ideological and practical differences are demonstrated. Surgical treatment of patients with spinal deformity associated with multiple malformations is of particular interest in the practice of a spine specialist. Most patients at an early age require multi-stage surgical treatment which threatens to entail serious complications. In order to minimize risks and improve the final result of treatment, it is necessary to apply existing surgical techniques, as well as correctly arrange a sequence and frequency of their implementation.

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is the most common type of musculoskeletal defect affecting children worldwide, and is classified by age of onset, location and degree of spine curvature. Although rare, IS with onset during infancy is the more severe and rapidly progressive form of the disease, associated with increased mortality due to significant respiratory compromise. The pathophysiology of IS, in particular for infantile IS, remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate the role of PRMT5 in the infantile IS phenotype in mouse. Conditional genetic ablation of PRMT5 in osteochondral progenitors results in impaired terminal hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation and asymmetric defects of endochondral bone formation in the perinatal spine. Analysis of these several markers of endochondral ossification revealed increased type X collagen (COLX) and Ihh expression, coupled with a dramatic reduction in Mmp13 and RUNX2 expression, in the vertebral growth plate and in regions of the intervertebral disc in the Prmt5 conditional mutant mice. We also demonstrate that PRMT5 has a continuous role in the intervertebral disc and vertebral growth plate in adult mice. Altogether, our results establish PRMT5 as a critical promoter of terminal hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation and endochondral bone formation during spine development and homeostasis. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

The paper presents a second part of literature review on basic methods of treatment of patients with infantile and juvenile scoliosis. Particular attention is paid to the results of treatment with the use of various instrumentation and with a possibility of stage correction.

The paper presents the first part of literature review of the main methods of treatment of patients with infantile and juve- nile scoliosis. Particular attention was paid to the results of treatment using various instrumentation with the possibility of stage correction.