Neuromuscular Scoliosis as a Rare Manifestation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a Child

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute autoimmune polyneuropathy that may lead to long-term neuromuscular deficits, though the development of scoliosis as a late complication is rare, especially in children. We present the case of a nine-year-old boy with progressive thoracic scoliosis following a severe episode of GBS diagnosed at 18 months of age, which resulted in persistent flaccid paralysis, bilateral hip dislocation, and long-term tracheostomy-assisted respiratory support. Radiographs revealed a 71° thoracic curve, and the patient underwent correction using a minimally invasive bipolar fixation (MIBF) fusionless technique that incorporated iliosacral connectors, lumbar pedicle screws, and thoracic hooks, enabling future lengthening. Postoperative imaging showed a reduction of the curve to 32°, achieving a 54.93% correction, and the patient experienced an uncomplicated recovery with stable alignment at one-year follow-up. This case highlights the potential for neuromuscular scoliosis to develop after childhood GBS and supports the use of fusionless minimally invasive techniques in managing spinal deformity in young, medically complex patients.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-01-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.100674
Primary Topic
Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
Type
article
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article

Neuromuscular Scoliosis as a Rare Manifestation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a Child

Spyridon I Antonopoulos, Panagiotis Krallis, Anastasia Pilichou, Eleni Pappa
Cureus
Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
article

Neuromuscular Scoliosis as a Rare Manifestation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a Child

Spyridon I Antonopoulos, Panagiotis Krallis, Anastasia Pilichou, Eleni Pappa
article en

Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute autoimmune polyneuropathy that may lead to long-term neuromuscular deficits, though the development of scoliosis as a late complication is rare, especially in children. We present the case of a nine-year-old boy with progressive thoracic scoliosis following a severe episode of GBS diagnosed at 18 months of age, which resulted in persistent flaccid paralysis, bilateral hip dislocation, and long-term tracheostomy-assisted respiratory support. Radiographs revealed a 71° thoracic curve, and the patient underwent correction using a minimally invasive bipolar fixation (MIBF) fusionless technique that incorporated iliosacral connectors, lumbar pedicle screws, and thoracic hooks, enabling future lengthening. Postoperative imaging showed a reduction of the curve to 32°, achieving a 54.93% correction, and the patient experienced an uncomplicated recovery with stable alignment at one-year follow-up. This case highlights the potential for neuromuscular scoliosis to develop after childhood GBS and supports the use of fusionless minimally invasive techniques in managing spinal deformity in young, medically complex patients.

CureusVol. 18(1)
Iaso Children’s Hospital (GR)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 98%
Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
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