• Nadir Yalcin, Elhanan Bar-on, and Muharrem Yazici.
• Department of Orthopaedics, Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Turkey.
• Spine. 2008 Nov 1;33(23):E881-6.

Study DesignCase series.ObjectiveTo define radiologic diagnosis and treatment strategies of rib dislocation to prevent serious complications during deformity surgery.Summary Of Background DataRib dislocation into the spinal canal caused by the dystrophic changes seen in scoliotic patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) may cause severe complications when neglected. The risk of this complication is increased by modern instrumentation techniques that produce greater correction.MethodsThree neurologically intact neurofibromatosis patients with scoliosis on whom rib dislocations were determined on convex side of the apical vertebrae were evaluated.ResultsThree cases were operated with modern instrumentation and correction techniques either with anterior and posterior approaches with or without rib head excisions, to prevent cord injury. There were no neurologic complications postoperatively.ConclusionApical convex rib head dislocation into the canal in NF-1 scoliotic patients can be suspected by conventional radiograms and be proven by CT and MRI. The rib dislocation is not a contraindication to deformity correction with modern spinal instrumentation techniques when preventive measures are applied.

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