OBJECTIVE: To evaluate weight gain and change in nutritional status of patients with thoracic myelomeningocele after using the vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) as an option for treatment of the spine without fusion. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including eight patients (mean age of 5.3 years, ranging from 3.6 to 7.6 years at the time of initial surgery), with thoracic myelomeningocele presenting with scoliosis higher than 40º and kyphosis greater than 80º, measured by the Cobb method. All patients were surgically treated with VEPTR by the Scoliosis Group of the AACD in São Paulo. We analyzed patient weights and nutritional status by comparing the standard deviations in weight for age groups based on the WHO reference chart. We also analyzed the angular kyphosis at preoperative, and immediate and late post-operative periods. RESULTS: There was an absolute weight gain in all patients with a mean gain of 8.7 kg (range 3 to 20 kg). Six patients (75%) gained weight and had increased value of the standard deviation, resulting in approximation of their weight in relation to the median considered normal weight versus age reference curve after starting treatment with VEPTR. CONCLUSION: The observed absolute weight gain was not accompanied by an improvement of nutritional status and there was no relationship between kyphosis correction and weight gain.
Meningomyelocele; Prostheses and implants; Weight gain; Kyphosis; Spine
