ESPE Abstracts

The identification of anamnestic, clinical and instrumental data indicative of pathological FMS plays a pivotal role in the prevention of ACH complications.

Objective: identify key cranio-cervical junction(CCJ)neuroradiological features for the surgical choice and for the neuroradiological decompression outcome.

Methods: from a total of 191 patients, we selected 24 subjects with ACH (age:<4years), who performed a first brain MRI and/or CT. Patients were divided into 2 groups: surgically treated patients (STP=15/24) and non-surgically treated patients (NSTP=9/24). The data were compared with a control group(CG) of 24 children of the same age and with a group of ACH patients surgically treated at an age of more than 4 years (ACHPST>4AA, 5/191). Antero-posterior cervical osteo-ligamentous diameter (APCOL-D), anteroposterior cervical bone diameter (APCB-D), degree of cervical stenosis (grade 0, 1, 2, 3, defined respectively on the basis of the increase in stenosis and grade 4A and 4 B defined according to the degree of stenosis in association with myelopathy), posterior margin of the prominent foramen magnum (prominence PMPFM), posterior arc of prominent C1, hypertrophy of soft tissues, occipital bone spur, orientation of the posterior edge of the foramen magnum, OS odontoideum, were evaluated by brain MRI.

Results: 33.3% of subjects who performed the first MRI in the first 6 months of life have myelopathy (stenosis 4A and 4B). All STP have cervical stenosis of grade>2, while the NSTP have degrees< 2. Grade 1 is equally represented in STP and NSTP. The APCOL-D is significantly lower in the STP vs CG (P≤0.0001) and in the NSTPvsCG (P≤0.001), while there is no significant difference between STPvs NSTP. APCOL-D is significantly lower in the STPvsNSTP, STPvsCG (P=0.0001) and NSTP vs CG (P=0.001), with an OR=3.95 (P=0.02). Prominence PMPFM is significantly associated with surgery (P=0.003), while no other qualitative parameters are significantly associated. In STP there is a significant increase of APCOL-D and APCB-D (P = 0.0001).

Conclusions: brain MRI is crucial in the preventive diagnosis of complications (screening role). The importance of performing MRI in the first 6 months of life has been highlighted. The most important radiological parameters for surgical choice are: prominence PMPFM, the APCOL-D (values<7.6mm determine a risk of surgical therapy 4 times higher) and the degrees of stenosis>2.STP have a very good radiologic decompression outcome.The data of this pilot study will be correlated with multidisciplinary approach, useful in particular in the evaluation of grade1 stenosis (still grey area).