Lumbopelvic fusion with a new fixation technique in lumbosacral agenesis: three cases


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YAZICI M., Akel I., DEMİRKIRAN H. G.

JOURNAL OF CHILDRENS ORTHOPAEDICS, vol.5, no.1, pp.55-61, 2011 (ESCI) identifier identifier

Abstract

Purpose Patients with lumbosacral agenesis characteristically sit on their iliac wings with their torsos bent forward, which yields an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and, subsequently, negative effects on their diaphragm. The sacrum is not available as an anchor point for instrumentation. Dunn-McCarthy rods or Galveston fixations cannot be performed due to these limited anatomic properties. On the other hand, the absence of necessary bone mass for fusion anteriorly limits the fusion interventions to the posterior. Therefore, a secure and rigid fixation is essential to preclude the need for an external support. There are limited publications discussing different techniques due to the relatively rare incidence of the disease. We report the clinical and radiological results of a new technique applied to three patients in which previously recommended methods are modified.