This 2004 narrative review by Hedequist and Emans covers congenital scoliosis from embryologic classification through surgical management. It addresses how anomaly type predicts natural history, what associated systemic abnormalities to screen for, when imaging is mandatory, and how to match surgical technique to patient age, curve magnitude, and deformity pattern.
When you encounter a child with congenital scoliosis, immediately classify the anomaly type — a unilateral bar with contralateral hemivertebra demands urgent surgical planning given its relentless progression, while a block vertebra can often be observed.
Every patient needs systematic screening for cardiac, urologic, auditory, and intraspinal abnormalities before any intervention, and MRI of the neural axis is mandatory prior to surgery given the 18–37% rate of occult dysraphism.
This 2004 narrative review by Hedequist and Emans covers congenital scoliosis from embryologic classification through surgical management. It addresses how anomaly type predicts natural history, what associated systemic abnormalities to screen for, when imaging is mandatory, and how to match surgical technique to patient age, curve magnitude, and deformity pattern.
When you encounter a child with congenital scoliosis, immediately classify the anomaly type — a unilateral bar with contralateral hemivertebra demands urgent surgical planning given its relentless progression, while a block vertebra can often be observed.
Every patient needs systematic screening for cardiac, urologic, auditory, and intraspinal abnormalities before any intervention, and MRI of the neural axis is mandatory prior to surgery given the 18–37% rate of occult dysraphism.