Spinal Angiography in Scoliosis Patients

¹ From the Scoliosis Service of the New York Orthopaedic Hospital and The Neurological Institute of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York

Thirty-three patients had spinal-cord angiography performed by femoral artery catheter technique. The blood supply to the spinal cord was then studied with special attention given to the arteria radiculomedullaris magna. Two patients were treated by conservative means when, because of the angiographic findings, it was decided that a surgical approach might be too risky and might possibly produce paraplegia.

Although this technique has some risks, the only complication encountered was a mild rash because of allergy to the contrast medium. The technique at this time, however, is still strictly experimental and is not for general use.

With further investigation, angiography may become a safer, and even a routine, technique to aid the surgeon in any type of spinal surgery. Perhaps the risk of paraplegia in surgery for scoliosis can be eliminated by the use of spinal angiography or other more sophisticated investigative techniques.

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