Congenital lumbar kyphosis with skin ulceration and osteomyelitis in a myelomeningocele child: a case report

Introduction: Kyphosis is a frequent problem in children with spina bifida, and this deformity may cause different complications as respiratory insufficiency, bowel dysfunction, and skin ulcers. Case report: We report on a 13-year-old myelomeningocele male with a lumbar kyphoscoliosis associated to a septic skin ulceration that resulted in an acute sepsis. An X-ray revealed a kyphosis of 110° and a scoliosis of 25° between T9 and L5. The wound and blood cultures showed Staphylococcus aureus colonization, and an appropriate antibiotic therapy was started. An MRI showed a wedged vertebra at T12, a laminae defects from T8 to the sacrum, and a spondylitis at T12-L1. Ulcer resection and kyphectomy from T12 to L3 were performed “en bloc,” and the spine was instrumented fromT7 to S1. After the surgery, the kyphosis was corrected to 10°, and the scoliosis was corrected to 0°. At an 18-month follow-up, a solid bony fusion was obtained, and no recurrence of skin ulcer was reported. Conclusion: Antibiotherapy associated to one-step “en-bloc” surgical debridement and kyphectomy should be considered as a valid option to eradicate the infection and to correct the spine deformity in kyphosis due to myelomeningocele associated to septic skin ulcer and spondylitis.