[Anterior spinal cord decompression in paraplegia in angular kyphosis. Apropos of 5 cases in children and adolescents].

The authors performed an anterior medullar decompression and a vertebral arthrodesis with bone grafts in 5 children and adolescents suffering neurological troubles caused by an angular kyphosis. 4 patients out of 5 completely or almost completely recovered from their paraplegia in the days or weeks following surgery. The authors stress the infrequency of the indication of such a procedure justified in either recent or incomplete neurological troubles without improvement by immobilization and rest. This procedure, which may raise technical problems, gives way to the rapid recovery of a satisfying functional state. It is to be considered in view of these dramatic situations.