Posterior Spinal Correction and Fusion Surgery in Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy-Associated Scoliosis for Whom Treatment with Nusinersen Was Planned

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Introduction: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is defined as a neuromuscular disorder induced by progressive weakness of the skeletal muscle and is usually accompanied by progressive spinal deformity including scoliosis. The newly developed Nusinersen, which is the first approved drug worldwide for SMA, requires accurate intrathecal injection, which is sometimes difficult in patients with severe spinal deformity.

Technical Note: For an accurate intrathecal approach in patients who have spinal fusion surgery to treat neuromuscular scoliosis, we have combined an L3 laminectomy with spinal correction and fusion surgery. Here, we review four cases of SMA in patients who underwent the additional L3 laminectomy during surgery to treat spinal scoliosis. A successful intrathecal approach was made using fluoroscopic guidance in all four patients, who were then administered with Nusinersen.

Conclusions: Our findings show that additional lumbar laminectomy during surgery for spinal scoliosis has effectively allowed for intrathecal injection of Nusinersen.