Abstract
Orthopedic or musculoskeletal problems are common in individuals with spina bifida. They can affect function and mobility and, in the case of spinal deformity, affect pulmonary function. We discuss the current treatment guidelines developed through collaboration with the Spina Bifida Association and the Orthopedics and Mobility working group using a specific methodology previously reported [1,2]. General considerations are discussed followed by evaluation and treatment guidelines for specific age ranges. References are provided where applicable, but where data is lacking treatment guidelines fall under the umbrella of clinical consensus. This leaves “research gaps” where areas of possible future study could be considered.
Introduction
Orthopedic problems and musculoskeletal deformities are common in patients with spina bifida. Deformities can affect function, preclude lower extremity bracing and contribute to skin breakdown.
The prevalence of spinal deformities including scoliosis and kyphosis is proportionate to the severity of the neurologic lesion. Spinal deformities can be challenging to treat. Body casting that can be used in idiopathic early onset scoliosis may cause skin breakdown due to insensate skin. Bracing can be used, but there is limited data to support it. Surgical treatment carries high risks including infection, pseudarthrosis, and loss of mobility. Recent studies have questioned the effect of surgery on overall function [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Nevertheless, patients with early onset scoliosis or gibbus (kyphus) deformity present special challenges due to concerns about pulmonary function. Growing rod strategies such as spine to spine or rib to pelvis distraction are increasingly used for these patients, but the small size of the patient relative to the construct and poor soft tissue envelope remain as challenges [8, 9, 10]. Further studies are needed to understand the risks and benefits of spinal surgery versus acceptance of the natural history of the spinal deformity.
Lower limb deformities can also be problematic and can affect function and gait. These can include contractures of the hip or knee or rotational deformities. Correction of rotational deformities, particularly external tibial torsion, has been shown to improve gait parameters on computerized gait analysis testing [11]. Release of contractures can also render the limb more amenable to bracing.
Hip subluxation and dislocation are common due to muscle imbalance, particularly in the patient with a mid-lumbar lesion. In previous times, hip reduction surgery, including bone procedures and muscle transfers were commonly performed. A recent study suggests that hip reduction surgery is of questionable benefit in myelomeningocele while computerized gait analyses show that contracture, not subluxation, has a deleterious effect on ambulation [12]. Therefore, the use of hip reduction surgery has waned in recent decades, with the possible exception in individuals with low lumbar or sacral neurologic levels. Thus, the present guidelines do not recommend routine surveillance of the hip or surgical treatment of hip subluxation/dislocation, although patients with a low lumbar or sacral lesion with unilateral dislocation could be considered an exception and must be treated on an individual basis [13, 14].
The non-plantigrade foot is a frequent problem in myelomeningocele. The feet typically manifest sensory impairments and consequently, skin breakdown can occur. Orthoses such as ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) can support the foot in patients with motor impairments, but some foot deformities may preclude bracing. A variety of orthopedic strategies, both operative and non-operative, can be used to treat foot deformities. These include stretching, bracing, serial casting, and surgery. Surgery can include tendon releases and resections, tendon transfers, joint capsular releases, osteotomies, and fusions. In general, the younger, less rigid foot may respond to soft tissue procedures while the older or more rigid foot may also require osteotomy. A classic dictum is that fusions should be avoided when possible as they render the foot more rigid which can increase the risk of skin breakdown (clinical consensus). Nevertheless, some deformities may be sufficiently severe as to require salvage procedures such as talectomy, subtalar arthrodesis [15] or triple arthrodesis [16].
The proper timing for foot surgery is debatable. However, a foot deformity that has become so severe as to be unbraceable in someone who still wants to pursue ambulation is certainly an appropriate indication. However, some surgeons may take a more proactive approach, performing tendon balancing surgery earlier in life to prevent bony deformity later. For example, a patient with an L4-level lesion with an unopposed anterior tibial tendon function will generally develop a calcaneus deformity. With time, weight bearing will be only on the calcaneus with no weight bearing through the forefoot. This can lead to calcaneal skin breakdown. Anterior tibial tendon transfer to the Achilles or merely anterior tibial tendon release done at an early age can improve or prevent this. If done later in life, a calcaneal osteotomy may be necessary [17]. Ultimately, the approach that is taken in the treatment of foot deformities (proactive or reactive) will be at the discretion of the surgeon and the family.
Guidelines, goals, and outcomes
The following outcomes were chosen by the Orthopedics/Mobility working group. The outcomes were chosen to be both practical and aspirational. As individuals with spina bifida vary, particularly regarding neurologic function and thus ambulatory potential, not all outcomes are applicable to every individual. The primary outcome chosen concerned the maintenance of a stable, balanced spine with optimum length. The working group felt that this was important for ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals. As a secondary outcome, maintenance of a plantigrade foot without skin breakdown was chosen. Although prevention of foot deformity may be more important for ambulators, even non-ambulators may require plantigrade feet for transfer and can experience skin breakdown of the feet. As a tertiary outcome, the optimization of gait and prevention or correction of lower extremity deformity was chosen. This outcome is most applicable in ambulatory individuals.
Primary
Maintain a stable and balanced spine. Optimize pulmonary function and avoid restrictive pulmonary disease. Optimize spinal growth. Avoid or facilitate healing of sacral/ischial decubiti.
Secondary
Maintain plantigrade feet. Prevent skin breakdown.
Tertiary
Preserve or improve gait efficiency. Early identification and stabilization, or correction, of lower limb deformities.
Clinical questions that informed the orthopedic guidelines
Clinical questions that informed the orthopedic guidelines
A specific methodology was followed in the development of the Orthopedic and Mobility guidelines [2]. First, the previous version of the Orthopedic guidelines was reviewed.
A literature search was carried out to locate publications that had emerged since the previous version of the guidelines that related to orthopedics and mobility. The working group then reviewed the applicable literature and came to a consensus about the selection of outcomes and clinical questions. These were selected based on the clinical experience of the working group members as it relates to issues that are important in the overall musculoskeletal function of individuals with spina bifida. The available literature was then further vetted to answer these questions. Where the clinical questions could not be specifically answered by the available literature, the “best practice” was determined through the consensus of the working group and further vetted by the described guideline methodology [2].
Results
The guidelines for the orthopedic care of individuals with spina bifida are listed in Table 2. Of note, the hallmark of the clinic visit is evaluation by history and physical exam. Radiographs are reserved for deformity suspected on physical exam or to evaluate for specific complaints. The spine, extremities, peripheral neurologic exam, and gait are evaluated. It is further recommended that the orthopedist communicate with Neurosurgery if there are any concerning neurologic findings or deformities such as new onset of cavus feet or rapidly progressive scoliosis that might be indicative of tethered spinal cord. Surgical deformity correction should be reserved for those deformities that are either presently or anticipated to be affecting function. Most guidelines are repeated in multiple age groups.
The orthopedic guidelines
The orthopedic guidelines
The goal of orthopedic treatment of individuals with spina bifida is to render the musculoskeletal system as functional as possible for a given individual’s neurologic function. As such, not every patient will have the same orthopedic needs. Furthermore, deformities of the spine, lower extremities and feet vary greatly as does their impact on function. Consequently, it is not possible to make definitive statements about the need to correct certain deformities and therefore treatments need to be individualized.
Deformities may be present at birth or may develop over time due to muscle imbalance or weakness. Furthermore, lower extremity deformities do not have impact on function until the child begins ambulating. Therefore, the age at which orthopedic correction takes place varies widely. During the process of writing the guidelines, we were tasked with breaking up the guidelines by age group. To a certain extent, this is contrived and many of the guidelines are repeated in multiple age groups and correction of deformities may take place at any age. Again, this made it difficult to make definitive statements about undergoing corrective surgery in specific age groups.
Much of the orthopedic literature on spina bifida concentrates more on how rather than why to correct deformities. Natural history and outcome studies on specific deformities are lacking. Case series are common but control groups are lacking. Most studies on the orthopedic care of these patients are Level 4 data. For all of the above reasons many of our recommendations fall under “clinical consensus”.
Lastly, many of the guidelines relate to the office practice of orthopedics as it relates to individuals with spina bifida. Such questions as whether screening radiographs of the spine should be carried out in individuals who did not clinically appear to have spinal deformity caused significant debate. Another question was how often to evaluate patients in different age groups. The available orthopedic literature does not address these questions but through the experience of the members of the working group and the process outlined for the creation of these guidelines [2], clinical consensus was achieved.
Future studies need to concentrate on the effect of orthopedic problems and various modes of mobility on health-related quality of life. National registry data such as the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry can be queried to add statistical power to studies where only small case series have existed previously. Furthermore, surveys of patients and caretakers are presently being performed through initiatives sponsored by the Spina Bifida Association. It can be surprising to the orthopedist caring for these individuals that musculoskeletal problems or deformities that seem quite impressive are far down the list of the patient’s priorities. Orthopedists and physiatrists who take care of individuals with spina bifida should pay close attention to these types of surveys and studies to inform their treatment and develop ideas for future research.
Footnotes
Acknowledgments
This edition of the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine includes manuscripts based on the most recent “Guidelines For the Care of People with Spina Bifida,” developed by the Spina Bifida Association. Thank you to the Spina Bifida Association for allowing the guidelines to be published in this forum and making them Open Access.
The Spina Bifida Association has already embarked on a systematic process for reviewing and updating the guidelines. Future guidelines updates will be made available as they are completed.
Executive Committee
Timothy J. Brei, MD, Spina Bifida Association Medical Director; Developmental Pediatrician, Professor, Seattle Children’s Hospital Sara Struwe, MPA, Spina Bifida Association President & Chief Executive Officer Patricia Beierwaltes, DPN, CPNP, Guideline Steering Committee Co-Chair; Assistant Professor, Nursing, Minnesota State University, Mankato Brad E. Dicianno, MD, Guideline Steering Committee Co-Chair; Associate Medical Director and Chair of Spina Bifida Association’s Professional Advisory Council; Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Nienke Dosa MD, MPH, Guideline Steering Committee Co-Chair; Upstate Foundation Professor of Child Health Policy; SUNY Upstate Medical University Lisa Raman, RN, MScANP, MEd, former Spina Bifida Association Director, Patient and Clinical Services Jerome B. Chelliah, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Funding
The development of these Guidelines was supported in part by Cooperative Agreement UO1DD001077, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.