ABSTRACT

Vertebral anomalies causing congenital scoliosis are classified as formation, segmentation and mixt defects. The natural histoıy depends on type and localisation of deformity and patient’s age. The patient has to be evaluated with histoıy, physical examination and appropriate imaging modalities.

All patients with congenital scoliosis have to be evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging for spinal pathologies and also genitourinary and cardiac anomalies have to be detected.

Early diagnosis and intervention before the development of large curves is important. Deformities with progression risk have to be treated aggresively.

Because of the high risk of neurological injury, early and simple surgical procedures are more prefferable and also using neoromonitorisation during surgery is adviced.

Insitu posterior fusion and hemiepiphysiodesis may be selected in patients with minimal or no deformity. Moderate deformities may be partially corrected with instrumentation and arthrodesis. More severe deformities may be managed by vertebrectomies or osteotomies.

Growing rods may be used in younger patients with severe and long curves. If the thoracic insufficiency syndrome associated with congenital scoliosis and rib fusions may be treated with expansion thoracoplasty and VEPTR devices.