Omullo P, Nurani KM, Shahabi K, Emma O, Mutuku B. Congenital scoliosis with truncus arteriosus type 1 in a preterm neonate: A case report. World J Clin Pediatr 2025; 14(3): 106439 [DOI: 10.5409/wjcp.v14.i3.106439]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Khulud Mahmood Nurani, MD, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Mbagathi Road, PO Box 43226-80100, Kenya. khuludnurani@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Pediatrics
Article-Type of This Article
Case Report
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Clin Pediatr. Sep 9, 2025; 14(3): 106439 Published online Sep 9, 2025. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v14.i3.106439
Congenital scoliosis with truncus arteriosus type 1 in a preterm neonate: A case report
Pius Omullo, Khulud Mahmood Nurani, Kimiya Shahabi, Ooko Emma, Brian Mutuku
Pius Omullo, Ooko Emma, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Murang’a County Referral Hospital, Murang'a 10200, Central, Kenya
Khulud Mahmood Nurani, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, PO Box 43226-80100, Kenya
Kimiya Shahabi, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
Brian Mutuku, Department of Medicine, Maseno University, Kisumu 3275-40100, Kenya
Author contributions: Omullo P contributed to conceptualization, data collection and drafting of the manuscript; Khulud MN contributed to literature review, manuscript drafting, editing, and critical revision; Shahabi K contributed to data interpretation, case presentation refinement, and manuscript review; Emma O contributed to manuscript formatting, figure preparation, and reference management; Mutuku B contributed to supervision, critical revision, and final approval of the manuscript; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Informed consent statement: We confirm that informed consent was obtained from the patient’s parents prior to the collection and publication of clinical information related to this case. A clear explanation of the study’s purpose, potential implications, and the nature of the information being shared was provided. All questions and concerns were addressed before consent was granted.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Khulud Mahmood Nurani, MD, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Mbagathi Road, PO Box 43226-80100, Kenya. khuludnurani@gmail.com
Received: February 27, 2025 Revised: April 16, 2025 Accepted: May 7, 2025 Published online: September 9, 2025 Processing time: 110 Days and 5.8 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a spinal deformity caused by defective segmentation and development of vertebrae during early embryogenesis. It occurs in 0.5%-1% in 1000 births and may rarely occur with congenital defects affecting the heart or genitourinary system. Truncus arteriosus (TA) is a life-threatening cardiac defect in which a single arterial trunk supplies both systemic and pulmonary circulation, leading to complications such as pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and severe hypoxia. Although rare individually, the co-occurrence of both conditions poses unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, with limited documentation in medical literature.
CASE SUMMARY
We present a 36-week preterm neonate with CS associated with TA type 1, presenting with respiratory distress, cyanosis, and altered spinal curvature. This case demonstrates the complexity of managing neonates with multiple congenital defects. Here, the patient was managed with oxygen supplementation, heart failure medication, nasogastric feeding, and multidisciplinary care to optimize her for surgical corrections. A coordinated, interdisciplinary approach was employed to optimize outcomes, particularly in a resource-limited setting. Immediate respiratory and cardiovascular stabilization and long-term orthopedic and cardiac interventions were central to improving the patient’s quality of life and survival.
CONCLUSION
Recognizing co-existing congenital anomalies and their embryological interrelation is critical in holistic patient care, particularly during neonatal and infancy.
Core Tip: This case highlights the unusual co-occurrence of congenital scoliosis and truncus arteriosus type 1 in a preterm neonate. It emphasizes the necessity for prompt diagnosis and a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to management, aiming to enhance survival and quality of life in patients with complex congenital anomalies.
