We reviewed the results of spinal arthrodesis for congenital spinal
deformity in forty-nine patients who were younger than five years old. The
minimum follow-up was five years, and eleven patients had completed their
growth. Posterior arthrodesis alone was found to be effective in most
scoliotic patients. There was minimum bending of the fusion mass in most
patients, almost no creation of lordosis, and minimum effect on torso-lower
limb relationships. For congenital kyphosis, posterior arthrodesis was
highly effective, giving better eventual correction than when both anterior
and posterior arthrodesis was done.