08/02/2026
🚨 EXTREME Kyphoscoliosis Case | Adult Post-Tumor Deformity 🦴🧠🔥
(33-year-old patient)
Some spine deformity cases are beyond “difficult” — they are truly once-in-a-career challenges.
This patient had a history of infantile spinal tumor (ganglioneuroblastoma) and multiple prior spine surgeries with instrumentation. Years later, he developed a massive progressive deformity with neurological decline and respiratory compromise.
📌 Pre-op deformity:
➡️ Thoracic scoliosis: 125°
➡️ Lumbar scoliosis: 80°
➡️ Thoracic kyphosis: 150°
➡️ Spinal cord myelomalacia
➡️ Progressive spastic paraparesis + neurogenic bladder
➡️ Walking only with crutches
🛠️ Treatment plan: staged surgery (2 steps)
🔹 Stage 1:
✔️ removal of old implants
✔️ posterior release T2–L3
✔️ pedicle screws + internal distraction
🔹 Stage 2:
✔️ multiple PCO osteotomies
✔️ VCR at T6–T7
✔️ anterior fusion T5–T8
✔️ all done via posterior-only approach
✔️ continuous neuromonitoring (IONM)
⚠️ Intraoperative challenge
During expandable cage placement at T6–T7 we observed a major neuromonitoring signal drop, partially recovering after immediate corrective measures.
📉 Neurology outcome
Unfortunately, postop neurological status worsened:
➡️ ASIA D → ASIA B (motor loss, preserved sensation)
But with intensive rehab, recovery started.
📈 After 2 months of rehabilitation:
➡️ improved to ASIA C
➡️ regained ability to stand and walk with assistance
📏 Radiographic correction & height gain
✅ Kyphosis: 150° → 100°
✅ Scoliosis: 80° → 25°
✅ +13 cm height
✅ improved respiratory & cardiovascular function
✅ fusion achieved, no implant complications
💡 Message
Even in extreme post-tumor deformities, staged correction can offer real functional improvement — but the neurological risk is always present. Neuromonitoring + planning + rehab are crucial.