A survey conducted by the Scoliosis Research Society found eighty-seven
patients with acute neurological complications resulting from the treatment
of scoliosis. The incidence of these complications was determined to be
0.72 per cent. Seventy-four major complications involving the spinal cord
were reported, half of them complete paraplegia and half partial
paraplegia. Thirty-six per cent recovered completely, 32 per cent had
partial recovery, and 32 per cent had no return of function. Thirteen minor
complications involving cranial and peripheral nerves were reported. Major
complications occurred in forty-two cases of posterior spine fusion with
Harrington instrumentation and in twenty cases of posterior spine fusion
without instrumentation. Six patients became paraplegic following skeletal
traction alone.