Late post-operative paraparesis after rib penetration of the spinal canal in a patient with neurofibromatous scoliosis

Abstract

Rib displacement into the spinal canal is a rare cause of paraplegia or paraparesis in patients affected by neurofibromatous scoliosis. We describe a case of paraparesis in a 14-year-old child affected by neurofibromatous dystrophic kyphoscoliosis, treated with combined posterior and anterior spinal arthrodesis. Seventeen days after the surgical treatment the patient developed clinical signs and symptoms of paraparesis. A CT scan showed the head of the fifth rib protruding into the spinal canal with cord compression. Rib resection and posterior cord decompression were carried out following complete neurological recovery.

Introduction

Spinal deformity is the most common musculoskeletal manifestation in neurofibromatosis type I or peripheral neurofibromatosis with the incidence ranging from 10 to 60% [1]. Spinal deformities in patients affected by neurofibromatosis have been divided into dystrophic and nondystrophic forms [2]. Nondystrophic deformities behave similar to idiopathic scoliosis, but a close follow-up is firmly required because dystrophic changes may develop with time. This ability of a spinal deformity to transform by acquiring dystrophic features is called “modulation”, that has been reported to occur in 81% of children who present spinal deformity before age seven and 25% of those who are diagnosed after age seven [3]. Dystrophic features are characterized by a rapid and relentless progression and conservative treatment is usually ineffective [2, 3]. Common features of dystrophic deformities are represented by short thoracic curve with severe apical rotation, severe kyphosis, vertebral scalloping, pencilling of the ribs, foraminal enlargement, widening of the spinal canal, spindled transverse processes, defective pedicles, and presence of paravertebral tumors [1]. Spinal cord compression with paraplegia or paraparesis is uncommon in patients affected by dystrophic deformities and it was described as caused by severe kyphosis with vertebral subluxation, neurofibroma protruding through the foramina and ribs penetration into the spinal canal [1].

In this paper, we report a rare case of spastic paraparesis due to spinal cord compression caused by rib penetration in the spinal canal of a child with dystrophic deformity that was treated by posterior and anterior spinal arthrodesis.

Case report

The patient is a 14-year-old boy affected by type I neurofibromatosis and kyphoscoliosis. He was treated with Milwaukee brace since the age of ten. At the age of 13 he began to suffer from weakness of the lower limbs and exhibited progressive difficulty on walking about. The radiological investigation confirmed the presence of a double thoracic kyphoscoliosis. The thoracic kyphosis measured 120° with the apex at the level of T5–T6 (Fig. 1a, b). The magnetic resonance imaging showed a noticeable segmentary cord compression at the level of T5–T6 and excluded the presence of intraspinal tumours (Fig. 2a, b).

Fig. 1

A 14-year-old child with neurofibromatous kyphoscoliosis and worsening paraparesis. The A–P (a) and lateral (b) radiographs show the severe spinal deformiy

Fig. 2

a Preoperative MRI evidenced cord compression at the level of T5–T6 and excluded the presence of intraspinal tumours. b A careful examination of MRI permits to identify the rib displacement into the spinal canal (white arrow)

We performed surgical correction and instrumented posterior arthrodesis (T1–L1) using abundant bone graft. The postoperative period was regular without any neurological complication and patient was released from the hospital on the ninth postoperative day. A body cast was applied to contain any movement for a period of 2 months, during which he had complete neurological recovery. Fifty days after posterior surgery, we performed anterior arthrodesis by an open thoracotomy. The patient was released from hospital on seventh day with a body cast. Ten days later the patient complained of lower limbs weakness and he rapidly exhibited paraparesis. He was then admitted in the emergency room and X-rays showed the right position of spinal instrumentation. The CT scan confirmed that instrumentation as well as the anterior rib bone graft was perfectly inserted. Nevertheless, we observed a significant narrowing of the vertebral canal and a vertebral-rib malformation at the apex of the kyphosis (Fig. 3a). The three-dimension CT scan evidenced the head of the fifth rib penetrating the vertebral canal and cord compression (Fig. 3b). Resection of the rib, fragment removal and posterior cord decompression were carried out. Three days after we observed a noticeable improvement of neurological state and a complete neurological recovery then followed. The patient worn body casts and a Milwaukee brace till 9 months after surgery. At last control, 2 years after surgery, the patient was able to walk without any limitation.

Fig. 3

a The CT scan showed the fifth rib penetration into the enlarged intervertebral foramina (black arrow). b The 3D CT scan confirmed the rib displacement into the spinal canal (white arrow)

Discussion

The most common pattern of neurofibromatous dystrophic deformities is represented by a single short thoracic curve and abnormal kyphosis or lordosis [2], characterized by rapid progression, that usually develops despite the appropriate conservative treatment. Neurological deficits may be a consequence of severe kyphosis with vertebral subluxation, cord compression by neurofibroma protruding through the foramina and ribs penetration into the spinal canal [1].

Rib displacement into the spinal canal is an uncommon cause of cord compression and, to our knowledge, only few cases have been previously described with a variable involvement of the neurological functions [4–12]. The higher rate of rib displacement seems to be observed at the apex of the curves, where maximal rotation of vertebral bodies is present [10, 12].

The present case report appears to be noteworthy because a complete neurological recovery was firstly obtained by posterior instrumented arthrodesis, regardless of the rib displacement into the spinal canal, that was not evidenced by preoperative radiological evaluation. This led us to consider the severe kyphosis as the cause of neurological deficit. Actually, after CT scan assessment revealed intraforaminal rib displacement causing cord compression, a careful re-evaluation of pre-operative MRI permitted us to evidence this complication (Fig. 2b).

Furthermore, the period that followed the posterior instrumented arthodesis did not raise any suspect about the abnormal position of the fifth rib because of the absence of neurological signs or symptoms. Finally, lower limbs paraparesis appeared 17 days after anterior fusion without any promoting factor.

As evidenced by all previous reported cases, rib displacement into the spinal canal may have different patterns of clinical presentation [4–12]. It may be of acute or insidious onset [5, 7] and surgical treatment does not seem to be related with the occurrence of cord compression.

Although rib displacement into the spinal canal represents an infrequent complication of neurofibromatous spinal deformities, it must be excluded during preoperative radiological evaluation, even in the absence of neurological deficits. In fact, the presence of a rib displacement would require the surgical resection of the rib in addition to the spinal arthrodesis. To this purpose, a pre-operative study with the use of radiographs and MRI scan is recommended in order to identify the abnormality. Even if MRI does not seem to be specific, it may raise concerns of the lesion, by a careful observation of axial and sagittal images of thoracic spine, with a particular attention in the examination at the apex of the curve. At last, a guided CT scan permits to confirm the presence of rib displacement into the spinal canal.