颈椎椎体间融合器在脊髓型颈椎病治疗中的应用

目的 观察颈椎椎体间融合器(cervical interbody fusion cage,CIFC)在脊髓型颈椎病前路手术中的应用疗效,并与环锯法颈椎前路减压植骨融合术(环锯法)作对比分析。方法 CIFC组42例,共56个椎间隙,环锯法组40例,共50个椎间隙,术后定期随访及拍摄X线片,观察疗效及手术融合节段的稳定性、椎间高度和融合情况。结果 CIFC组56个椎间隙中52个间隙获得骨性融合,融合率92.86％,术后2周椎间高度较术前增加(1.5±0.8)mm,随访24个月,椎体高度仍较术前增加(1.1±0.6)mm,生理曲度维持满意,无内植物并发症;环锯法组50个椎间隙中有41个间隙获骨性融合,融合率82％,23例26个间隙不同程度的存在椎间高度丢失、椎体塌陷,椎间高度较术前降低(1.2±0.7)mm。结论 应用颈椎椎体间融合器能使颈椎融合节段获得术后即刻稳定,提高椎间骨性融合率和维持术后椎间高度,降低自体植骨并发症,并能维持脊髓减压疗效。     

前路减压Zero-P椎间融合器治疗颈椎病的疗效

[目的]评价前路减压Zero-p椎间融合器治疗颈椎病临床和影像学结果。[方法]回顾性分析2010年1月~2013年1月接受颈椎前路椎间盘切除融合术(anterior cervical discectomy and fusion,ACDF)联合Zero-p椎间融合器固定治疗颈椎病患者相关资料。临床功能评估采用颈椎功能障碍指数(neck disability index,NDI)、疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS),影像学评估采用颈椎正侧位X线片,通过Cobb角测量方法,测量病变节段上下椎体Cobb角,测量C_(3~7)椎体颈前软组织厚度,并于术后2年评估融合情况,吞咽困难等并发症也被观察。[结果]共纳入45例患者(50个节段),27例男性和18例女性,平均年龄(45.64±6.28)岁。所有患者至少随访24个月,平均随访时间为(41.11±7.82)个月。患者术后NDI、VAS评分均较术前有明显改善。影像学上94%的置入物融合。最终随访时颈椎前凸保持良好。术后颈前软组织厚度较术前显著增加,从平均(7.6±1.9)mm增至(15.2±2.9)mm,最终随访时(9.9±1.9)mm。按吞咽困难Bazaz分级,术后吞咽困难发生率44.4%,然而在最终的随访时仍有6.6%的患者具有轻、中度吞咽困难。在术后即刻和最终随访时颈前软组织厚度和吞咽困难分级Pearson相关性分析表明二者呈显著正相关。1例患者术后出现持续性的左上肢疼痛伴左三角肌肌力减弱,1例患者发生声音嘶哑,随访3个月后完全恢复。[结论]颈前椎间盘切除融合术联合Zero-p椎间融合器固定治疗颈椎病可获得较好的临床和影像学结果,术后吞咽困难发生与颈前软组织厚度呈显著正相关。     

前路减压椎间植骨融合术对脊髓型颈椎病患者椎间孔的影响

目的研究前路减压椎间植骨融合术(anterior cervical discectomy and fusion,ACDF)治疗脊髓型颈椎病(cervical spondylotic myelopathy,CSM)的疗效及对责任椎间盘和临近椎间孔的影响。方法纳入2015年1月～2017年10月于本院治疗的50例单节段CSM患者,均经ACDF治疗,随访1年,评估其临床疗效及融合节段前凸角、椎间高度,并经CT三维重建计算治疗术前、术后1周的责任椎间盘及临近椎间孔面积与高度。结果所有患者术后1个月、1年的JOA评分、融合节段前凸角及椎间高度较术前显著增加,NDI指数评分显著降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);术后责任椎间盘椎间孔面积与高度均显著增加,临近椎间孔面积与高度显著降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 ACDF治疗单节段CSM患者的疗效确切,能增大责任椎间盘椎间孔面积与高度,但临近椎间孔面积与高度有所降低。     

颈椎前路减压椎间融合器置入对椎间孔孔径的影响

目的 :探讨颈椎前路减压椎间融合器置入对椎间孔孔径的影响。方法 :回顾性分析2016年10月~2017年4月在我院行单节段颈椎前路减压椎间融合器置入术的29例神经根型或脊髓型颈椎病患者,其中男18例,女11例;年龄40~66岁(54.2±6.9岁);手术节段:C3/4 3例,C4/5 9例,C5/6 17例。将所有患者的术前、术后颈椎CT平扫数据导入Aquarius i Ntuition Viewer 4.4进行三维重建,确定测量层面,运用软件所带测量工具对手术节段、上位相邻节段和下位相邻节段双侧椎间孔孔径的相关指标进行测量,包括椎间孔上对角线、下对角线、高度和面积,对术前和术后手术节段、上位相邻节段及下位相邻节段双侧椎间孔的上对角线、下对角线、高度和面积进行统计学分析。结果:术前、术后同一节段双侧椎间孔的测量数据无显著性差异(P0.05),合并统计。术前手术节段、上位相邻节段及下位相邻节段椎间孔的上对角线和下对角线分别为5.55±0.81mm、5.64±1.00mm、5.48±0.95mm和6.11±0.99mm、5.91±1.02mm、6.07±1.02mm,术后分别5.49±0.92mm、5.73±0.94mm、5.45±0.81mm和6.04±1.06mm、6.06±0.96mm、6.01±1.01mm,术前、术后比较无显著性差异(P0.05)。术前手术节段、上位相邻节段及下位相邻节段的椎间孔高度和面积分别为8.70±1.08mm、9.60±0.98mm、9.20±1.0mm和0.35±0.08cm~2、0.41±0.12cm~2、0.36±0.09cm~2;术后手术节段、上位相邻节段及下位相邻节段的椎间孔高度和面积分别是9.35±1.02mm、9.02±1.15mm、8.62±1.08mm和0.38±0.08cm~2、0.39±0.12cm~2、0.34±0.09cm~2。术后手术节段椎间孔高度和面积较术前均显著性增大(P0.05),上位相邻节段和下位相邻节段椎间孔的高度和面积较术前显著性减小(P0.05)。结论:颈椎前路减压椎间融合器置入可以增大手术节段椎间孔的高度和面积,减小上位相邻节段和下位相邻节段的椎间孔高度和面积。     

前路减压椎间植骨融合内固定术治疗神经根型颈椎病保留钩椎关节的可行性分析

目的研究前路减压椎间植骨融合术(Anterior cervical decompression and fusion,ACDF)治疗神经根型颈椎病术中保留钩椎关节的可行性。方法纳入2014年4月~2016年4月行ACDF治疗的72例神经根型颈椎病患者,将术中保留钩椎关节的32例患者设为观察组,切除钩椎关节的40例设为对照组。随访2年,比较两组患者临床疗效及,植骨融合情况。结果两组术后3个月、6个月、2年的NDI指数、VAS评分均显著低于治疗前,JOA评分显著高于治疗前,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),但组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05);观察组手术优良率为87.50%,对照组为90.00%,组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05);两组吞咽不适、切口感染、慢性疼痛等并发症发生率差异无统计学意义(P0.05);观察组的植骨融合效果略优于对照组,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 ACDF手术能显著改善神经根型颈椎病疼痛症状及颈椎功能,保留钩椎关节能获得与切除钩椎关节相同的近期疗效,且手术安全有效。     

钽合金微孔内置物和自体骨植骨在颈前路椎间融合术中应用效果与安全性的Meta分析

目的 :系统评价钽合金微孔内置物和自体骨植骨在颈前路椎间盘切除减压融合术(ACDF)中应用的效果及安全性。方法:计算机检索Pub Med、Medline、Embase、Ovid、Cochrane Library、Sino Med等数据库,纳入关于颈前路椎间盘切除减压钽合金微孔内置物植骨或自体骨植骨融合治疗颈椎病的随机对照研究,应用Review Manager软件进行数据分析。选取平均手术时间、手术失血量、住院时间、疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)、并发症发生率、融合率和满意率等指标进行合并比较。结果 :共有5篇随机对照研究符合纳入标准,其中2篇为多中心研究,3篇为单中心研究;5篇文献对于随机序列产生均有充分描述,1篇文献对分配隐藏有充分描述,1篇文献对评价者的盲性有充分描述,3篇文献明确报道失访人数为0,4篇文献内容阐述详尽,信息偏倚较小。共有254例患者,钽合金微孔内置物植骨组142例,自体髂骨植骨融合组112例。钽合金微孔内置物融合组的平均手术时间[MD=-28.85,95%CI(-47.09,-10.60),P=0.002]、末次随访时VAS评分[MD=-0.31,95%CI(-0.43,-0.19),P0.0001]和满意率[OR=2.20,95%CI(1.06,4.55),P=0.035]都显著性优于自体骨植骨融合组;而平均手术出血量[MD=-73.61,95%CI(-217.72,70.51),P=0.32]、住院天数[MD=-0.51,95%CI(-1.08,0.06),P=0.08]、融合率[OR=0.63,95%CI(0.15,2.70),P=0.53]和术后并发症率[OR=0.25,95%CI(0.04,1.58),P=0.14]的差异无统计学意义。结论 :颈前路椎间盘切除减压钽合金微孔内置物植骨与自体骨植骨治疗颈椎病均可取得良好的疗效,钽合金微孔内置物植骨融合在手术时间、VAS评分和满意率上优于自体骨植骨融合。     

颈椎椎间融合器研究进展

椎间融合器是颈椎椎间植骨融合的首选装置。近年来,椎间融合器不断优化,形状上从开始的螺纹结构到现在的非螺纹梯形和楔形结构,材料上经历了从钛、聚醚醚酮到椎间融合器表面改性、钛/聚醚醚酮复合材料、可吸收材料,设计上从钛板螺钉固定到零切迹方案及应用3D打印技术定制个性化椎间融合器。该文对颈椎椎间融合器研究进展作一综述。     

椎间融合器和颈椎前路钢板治疗脊髓型颈椎病近期效果

目的 观察高位颈椎采用椎间融合器、低位采用颈椎前路钢板固定治疗脊髓型颈椎病的近期效果。方法 对86例C3-4、C5-6或C6-7脊髓型颈椎病患者行前路减压、植骨及C3-4椎间融合器和C5-6、C6-7钢板内固定术。术后随访观察神经功能恢复情况、植骨融合率及有无植入物并发症。结果 术后进行6～12个月(平均10个月)随访。术后6个月X线片显示全部病例植骨愈合良好；症状明显改善者75例(占87％)；无椎间融合器下沉、脱位，无钢板及螺钉松动或断裂现象。结论 高位颈椎采用椎间融合器、低位采用钢板内固定术治疗脊髓型颈椎病，具有以下优点：明显减少手术并发症，手术操作相对简单，术后颈椎可获得即刻稳定，防止植骨块移位，术后无需石膏固定，能显著提高植骨融合率。     

颈椎前路椎间植骨融合术的研究进展

颈前路手术显露途径由Ｃｈｉｐａｕｌｔ于1895年在法国出版的神经外科教材上首先提出 ,但直到本世纪 5 0年代后期 ,Ｒｏｂｉｎｓｏｎ(195 5年 )、Ｄｅｒｅｙｍａｋｅｒ (195 6年 )、Ｃｌｏｗａｒｄ(195 8年 )等才报道了颈椎前路椎间融合的手术方式[1] 。此后 ,该手术逐渐得到推广 ,被公认为治疗颈椎疾患的一种疗效较好、并发症较少的手术方式 ,临床报道优良率达 70 %～90 %。Ｅｍｅｒｙ等认为影响骨融合率的因素主要是 :植骨块类型、手术技巧和融合节段数目[2 ] 。近年来 ,相继有一些新的改良手术方式、不同种类植入物出现。内固定的使用和…     

两种矫形方法治疗成人特发性脊柱侧凸的疗效比较

目的:比较单纯后路矫形术和一期前路松解、Halo-股骨髁上牵引加二期后路矫形术治疗成人特发性脊柱侧凸的疗效。方法:选取我院脊柱外科2003年1月～2007年12月收治的有完整影像学资料、Cobb角65°～90°的成人特发性脊柱侧凸患者30例,年龄20～30岁,平均23.4岁。均为初次手术,术前无神经损害。根据不同手术方法分为两组,行单纯后路矫形术的14例患者为A组,行一期前路松解、Halo-股骨髁上牵引及二期后路矫形术的16例患者为B组。两组患者术前侧凸Cobb角、胸椎后凸角、年龄、性别比、侧凸类型相匹配。随访时间为12～72个月,平均40个月。比较两组患者手术时间、出血量、住院时间、并发症情况、侧凸矫正率和冠状面平衡情况。结果:平均手术时间和平均住院时间A组分别为6.7±1.2h和24±18d,B组分别为9.9±1.4h和41±10d,B组均显著长于A组(P<0.05)。所有病例术后均无瘫痪、呼吸衰竭、死亡等并发症发生。术后侧凸矫正率A组为(51.3±11.8)%,B组为(64.5±11.6)%,B组显著大于A组(P<0.05);胸椎后凸角、C7中垂线与骶骨中线的距离A组为20.6°±8.4°、1.32±0.65cm,B组为20.4°±6.7°、1.30±0.70cm,两组比较均无显著性差异(P>0.05)。末次随访时A组侧凸矫正丢失率为(3.5±2.4)%,B组为(2.8±1.5)%,两组无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论:两种治疗方案治疗中度成人特发性脊柱侧凸均可获得较好的畸形矫正,一期前路松解、Halo-双侧股骨髁上牵引可以增加侧凸Cobb角矫正率,但是存在显著增加手术时间和住院时间等不足。     

Combined anterior and posterior instrumentation in severe and rigid idiopathic scoliosis

A prospective clinical and radiographic evaluation of 33 consecutive patients with severe and rigid idiopathic scoliosis (average Cobb angle 93°, flexibility on bending films 23%) were treated with combined anterior and posterior instrumentation with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. All patients underwent anterior release and VDS-Zielke Instrumentation of the primary curve. In highly rigid scoliosis, this was preceded by a posterior release. Finally, posterior correction and fusion with a multiple hook and pedicle screw construct was performed. Thirty patients were operated in one stage, three patients in two stages. Preoperative curves ranged from 80 to 122° Cobb angle. Frontal plane correction of the primary curve averaged 67% with an average loss of correction of 2°. The apical vertebral rotation of the primary curve was corrected by 49%. In all but three patients, sagittal alignment was restored. There were no neurological complications, deep wound infections or pseudarthrosis. Combined anterior and posterior instrumentation is safe and enables an effective three-dimensional curve correction in severe and rigid idiopathic scoliosis.     

Adult thoracolumbar and lumbar scoliosis treated with long vertebral fusion to the sacropelvis: a comparison between new hybrid selective spinal fusion versus anterior-posterior spinal instrumentation

Background contextCombined anteroposterior spinal fusion with instrumentation has been used for many years to treat adult thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis. This surgery remains a technical challenge to spine surgeons, and current literature reports high complication rates.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to validate a new hybrid technique (a combination of single-rod anterior instrumentation and a shorter posterior instrumentation to the sacrum) to treat adult thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis.Study designThis study is a retrospective consecutive case series of surgically treated patients with adult lumbar or thoracolumbar scoliosis.Patient sampleThis is a retrospective study of 33 matched pairs of patients with adult scoliosis who underwent two different surgical procedures: a new hybrid technique versus a third-generation anteroposterior spinal fusion.Outcome measuresPreoperative and postoperative outcome measures include self-report measures, physiological measures, and functional measures.MethodsIn a retrospective case-control study, 33 patients treated with the hybrid technique were matched with 33 patients treated with traditional anteroposterior fusion based on preoperative radiographic parameters. Mean follow-up in the hybrid group was 5.3 years (range, 2–11 years), compared with 4.6 years (range, 2–10 years) in the control group. Operating room (OR) time, estimated blood loss, and levels fused were collected as surrogates for surgical morbidity. Radiographic parameters were collected preoperatively, postoperatively, and at final follow-up. The Scoliosis Research Society Patient Questionnaire (SRS-22r) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were collected for clinical outcomes.ResultsOperating room time, EBL, and levels fused were significantly less in the hybrid group compared with the control group (p<.0001). The postoperative thoracic Cobb angle was similar between the hybrid and control techniques (p=.24); however, the hybrid technique showed significant improvement in the thoracolumbar/lumbar curves (p=.004) and the lumbosacral fractional curve (p<.0001). The major complication rate was less in the hybrid group compared with the control group (18% vs. 39%, p=.01). Clinical outcomes at final follow-up were not significantly different based on overall SRS-22r scores and ODI scores.ConclusionThe new hybrid technique demonstrates good long-term results, with less morbidity and fewer complications than traditional anteroposterior surgery select patients with thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis. This study received no funding. No potential conflict of interest-associated bias existed.     

Isolated posterior instrumentation for selected cases of thoraco-lumbar spinal tuberculosis without anterior instrumentation and without anterior or posterior bone grafting

Purpose

The aim of this prospective study is the analysis of the clinical and radiological outcomes of active thoraco-lumbar spinal tuberculosis treated with isolated posterior instrumentation without any posterior bone grafting or anterior inter-body bone grafting or anterior instrumentation.

Methods

The study was a prospective follow-up of 25 patients with active thoraco-lumbar spinal tuberculosis who underwent posterior spinal instrumentation with pedicle screws and rods. These patients had posterior stabilization of the involved segment of the spine without anterior or posterior bone grafting. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.3 years and the minimum duration of follow-up was 2 years.

Results

The mean kyphotic angle improved from 32.4° pre-operatively to 7.2° in the early follow-up period. Following a minor loss of correction during follow-up, the mean kyphotic angle settled at 11.5° at the time of final follow-up. Inter-body bony fusion was noticed at the final follow-up in all patients despite the absence of anterior bone grafting or cages.

Conclusion

Posterior instrumented stabilization followed by chemotherapy seems to be adequate for obtaining satisfactory healing of the lesions. Anterior inter-body bony arthrodesis occurs despite the absence of anterior bone grafts or cages. Careful patient selection is critical for successful outcome with this technique.     

Comparison of anterior and posterior double-rod instrumentation for thoracic idiopathic scoliosis: results of 141 patients

Ventral derotation spondylodesis, according to Zielke, achieves good results in operative treatment of idiopathic thoracic scolioses. Corrections of scoliotic major and secondary curve as well as derotation of the spine are reliably performed. The high rate of rod fractures with subsequent correction loss as well as a proportionate kyphogenic effect represents a problem. By keeping to the correcting principle, anterior double-rod instrumentation (Halm-Zielke Instrumentation) is to be stable in a similar way as posterior double-rod systems. Thus, it is done to facilitate brace-free postoperative care and to prevent excessive kyphotic pattern of the spine. In this prospective study, we retrospectively collected data. We performed radiological follow-up of two groups of patients with idiopathic thoracic scoliosis (King II, III and IV) undergoing an operation with posterior approach (USS instrumentation, posterior group, n=104) in 1997 and 1998 or being corrected with an anterior fusion (Halm-Zielke instrumentation, anterior group, n=37) between 2000 and 2001. Mean age of all patients for operation was 15±4 years. Follow-up was performed after 4±2 years on average. Preoperative measurements of the major and secondary curve, the lateral profile, rotation and frontal balance (C7 to S1) did not show any significant differences apart from a more severe scoliotic curve in the lumbar spine for the anterior group with appropriately higher lumbar rotation. During follow-up we noticed similar corrections of the thoracic major and lumbar curve in both groups ranging from 49 to 56%. In case of hypokyphotic (T4–T12≤20°) scoliosis a kyphogenic effect on the thoracic spine was achieved with both surgical methods. Hyperkyphotic (T4–T12≥40°) scolioses were flattened by posterior spinal fusion; the effect of anterior spinal fusion was not significant. Correction of thoracic and lumbar rotation in the anterior group by 37 or 30% was more significant than in the posterior group by 27 or 20%. There was no impact of anterior technique on the balance of the spine whereas the latter shifted by an average of 7 mm to the left in the posterior group. The number of fused segments was significantly smaller in the anterior group with 7±1 vertebral bodies (posterior, 11±1 vertebral bodies). Rates of complication were identical with 11 or 12% in both groups during follow-up. Anterior and posterior double-rod instrumentations result in comparable corrections for idiopathic thoracic scoliosis of the major and secondary curve. In case of posterior technique, however, four vertebral bodies less were integrated in spondylodesis on average. Balance of the spine did not change after anterior spondylodesis; however, it declined by using the posterior technique. Augmentation of the anterior threaded rod combined with a solid second rod significantly decreases the rate of implant breakages and reliably reduces consecutive correction losses.     

The changes of relative position of the thoracic aorta after anterior or posterior instrumentation of type I Lenke curve in adolescent idiopathic thoracic scoliosis

The risk of impingement of the aorta associated with thoracic vertebral screw or pedicle screw instrumentation in the treatment of thoracic scoliosis has been an important concern. To understand this phenomenon more systematically, the relative position of the aorta with reference to the thoracic vertebrae in right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) following anterior and posterior spinal instrumentation was analyzed in detail quantitatively; 34 patients underwent anterior (n = 14) or posterior (n = 20) spinal instrumentation were recruited in the present study. The relative position of the thoracic aorta, vertebral rotation, apical vertebral translation and thoracic kyphosis were measured from pre- and post-operative CT images from T5 to T12. The aorta was found to shift antero-medially in the anterior instrumentation group but not in the posterior spinal instrumentation group. It is likely that the disc removal, soft tissue release and spontaneous vertebral derotation of the scoliosis could account for the antero-medial shifting of the aorta. By the shifting, the space for contralateral screw penetration was reduced.     

Halo-股骨髁上牵引对重度脊柱侧凸后路矫形的影响

目的探讨Halo-股骨髁上牵引对重度先天性脊柱侧凸及特发性脊柱侧凸患者后路矫形效果的影响。方法选取60例重度脊柱侧凸患者分为先天性脊柱侧凸组及特发性脊柱侧凸组,每组30例。CS组术前平均冠状面Cobb角、胸椎后凸分别为95．7°及70．2°。IS患者术前平均冠状面Cobb角、胸椎后凸为91．6°及50．6°。平均随访38个月。结果60例患者平均牵引23d,平均牵引重量16kg。IS组患者Halo牵引及后路矫形术后侧凸矫正率分别达39．3％、57．5％,胸椎后凸平均矫正33．7％。CS组Halo牵引及后路矫形术后侧凸矫正率分别达35．3％、45．2％,胸椎后凸平均矫正43．5％。两组患者后路矫形术后侧凸及后凸矫正率差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。4例患者在牵引过程中并发臂丛神经麻痹,神经功能均在2个月内获得完全恢复。结论Halo-股骨髁上牵引可大幅提高脊柱侧凸尤其是特发性脊柱侧凸畸形矫正疗效。     

Anterior surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Anterior open scoliosis surgery using the dual rod system is a safe and rather effective procedure for the correction of scoliosis (50–60 %). Thoracic hypokyphosis and rib hump correction with open anterior rather than posterior instrumentation appear to be the better approaches, although the latter is somewhat controversial with current posterior vertebral column derotation devices. In patients with Risser grade 0, hyperkyphosis and adding-on may occur with anterior thoracic spine instrumentation. Anterior thoracoscopic instrumentation provides a similar correction (65 %) with good cosmetic outcomes, but it is associated with a rather high risk of instrumentation (pull-out, pseudoarthrosis) and pulmonary complications. Approximately 80 % of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) curves of >70° have restrictive lung disease or smaller than normal lung volumes. AIS patients undergoing anterior thoracotomy or anteroposterior surgery will demonstrate a significant decrease in percentage of predicted lung volumes during follow-up. The thoracoabdominal approach and thoracoscopic approach without thoracoplasty do not produce similar changes in detrimental lung volume. In patients with severe AIS (>90°), posterior-only surgery with TPS provides similar radiographic correction of the deformity (44 %) with better pulmonary function outcomes than anteroposterior surgery. Vascular spinal cord malfunction after segmental vessel ligation during anterior scoliosis surgery has been reported. Based on the current literature, the main indication for open anterior scoliosis instrumentation is Lenke 5C thoracolumbar or lumbar AIS curve with anterior instrumentation typically between T11 and L3.     

Long-term three-dimensional changes of the spine after posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

This is a prospective study comparing the short- and long-term three-dimensional (3D) changes in shape, length and balance of the spine after spinal instrumentation and fusion in a group of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The objective of the study was to evaluate the stability over time of the postoperative changes of the spine after instrumentation with multi rod, hook and screw instrumentation systems. Thirty adolescents (average age: 14.5 ± 1.6 years) undergoing surgery by a posterior approach had computerized 3D reconstructions of the spine done at an average of 3 days preoperatively (stage I), and 2 months (stage II) and 2,5 years (stage III) after surgery, using a digital multi-planar radiographic technique. Stages I, II and III were compared using various geometrical parameters of spinal length, curve severity, and orientation. Significant improvement of curve magnitude between stages I and II was documented in the frontal plane for thoracic and lumbar curves, as well as in the orientation of the plane of maximum deformity, which was significantly shifted towards the sagittal plane in thoracic curves. However, there was a significant loss of this correction between stages II and III. Slight changes were noted in apical vertebral rotation, in thoracic kyphosis and in lumbar lordosis. Spinal length and height were significantly increased at stage II, but at long-term follow-up spinal length continued to increase while spinal height remained similar. These results indicate that although a significant 3D correction can be obtained after posterior instrumentation and fusion, a significant loss of correction and an increase in spinal length occur in the years following surgery, suggesting that a crankshaft phenomenon may be an important factor altering the long-term 3D correction after posterior instrumentation of the spine for idiopathic scoliosis. Received: 3 March 1998 Revised: 22 August 1998 Accepted: 15 September 1998     

Is there a role for selective anterior instrumentation in neuromuscular scoliosis?

Our objective was to report on the clinical and radiological outcome from a cohort of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent selective anterior single rod instrumentation for correction of thoraco-lumbar and lumbar scoliosis. Traditionally combined anterior release with long posterior instrumentation has been advocated for the treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis. Neuromuscular curves tend to be long and may have significant pelvic obliquity. However, certain neuromuscular curves with minimal pelvic obliquity may lend themselves to selective anterior correction thereby saving motion segments and allow continued ambulation for those patients. Nine patients with neuromuscular scoliosis underwent selective anterior instrumentation between 1994 and 2000. The mean follow up was 2 years and 9 months (range 24–55 months). The clinical outcome (including parent and caregiver satisfaction), radiological outcome (Cobb angle, apical vertebral translation, pelvic obliquity, truncal shift, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis) and complications are reported. Subjective outcome was excellent in six patients and good in three. All nine patients retained their ability to walk. There were no neurological or vascular complications. Supplementary posterior surgery was required in two patients. The mean pre-operative Cobb angle of 52° (range 44–60) improved to 20° (range 10–28) at 3 months, achieving Cobb angle correction of 61% and was 19° (range 7–28) at final follow-up. The mean pre-operative compensatory curve of 31° (range 20–42) spontaneously corrected to 18° (range 14–24) at 3 months and was maintained at 18° (range 10–26) at final follow up. The mean pre-operative pelvic obliquity of 7° (range 0–14) corrected to 4° (range 0–8) at 3 months and was 3° (range 0–8) at final follow up. Selective anterior instrumentation and fusion in carefully selected patients with neuromuscular scoliosis (short flexible curves, minimal pelvic obliquity, pre-operative walkers, slow or non-progressive pathology) appears to have satisfactory clinical and radiological outcome at least in the short-term.