A prospective evaluation of pulmonary function in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis relative to the surgical approach used for spinal arthrodesis

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective evaluation of pulmonary function in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing surgical correction. OBJECTIVES: 1) To evaluate prospectively, at regular intervals, the changes in pulmonary function after surgical arthrodesis of primary thoracic and double primary thoracic-lumbar (double major) types of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in a homogeneous population; 2) to compare the changes in pulmonary function after surgical correction relative to the surgical approach used for spinal arthrodesis; and 3) to determine if short- to midterm morbidity with respect to pulmonary function is associated with the type of surgical approach used for spinal arthrodesis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The effect of surgical correction on the pulmonary function of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is controversial. Studies have shown improvement, decline, or no change in pulmonary function after surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing surgical treatment at the authors' institution were prospectively evaluated with pulmonary function tests assessing volume (forced vital capacity and total lung capacity) and flow (forced expiratory volume in 1 second). Pulmonary functions were evaluated before surgery and after surgery at 3 months, 1 year, 2 years, and at the final follow-up visit. All patients were divided into four groups depending on the surgical approach used for spinal fusion: Group 1 (n = 47) underwent a posterior spinal fusion with iliac crest bone graft; Group 2 (n = 33) underwent a posterior spinal fusion with rib resection thoracoplasty; Group 3 (n = 7) underwent an anterior spinal fusion with a rib resection thoracotomy; and Group 4 (n = 11) underwent a combined anterior and posterior spinal fusion with autogenous rib and iliac crest graft used, respectively. RESULTS: Patients in Group 1 had improved pulmonary function values at 3 months after surgery, whereas patients in Groups 2, 3, and 4 showed a decline at 3 months after surgery. Two years after surgery, Group 1 had significantly improved pulmonary function values (P < 0.0001), whereas the pulmonary function values of patients in Groups 2, 3, and 4 had returned to preoperative values. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Patients with chest cage disruption during surgical treatment showed a decline in pulmonary function at 3 months after surgery. 2) In contrast, patients without chest cage disruption showed an improvement in pulmonary function at 3 months after surgery. 3) Irrespective of the surgical approach used for spinal arthrodesis, postoperative pulmonary function tests (absolute values) returned to preoperative values at 2 years after surgery. 4) Patients who had no chest cage disruption experienced a significantly greater improvement in two of their pulmonary function values at 2 years after surgery than patients with chest cage disruption.     

The effect of posterior spinal fusion on respiratory function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Purpose

Posterior instrumented spinal fusion is indicated for progressive scoliosis that develops in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Whilst spinal fusion is known to improve quality of life, there is inconsistency amongst the literature regarding its specific effect on respiratory function. Our objective was to determine the effect of scoliosis correction by posterior spinal fusion on respiratory function in a large cohort of patients with DMD. Patients with DMD undergoing posterior spinal fusion were compared to patients with DMD not undergoing surgical intervention.

Methods

An observational study of 65 patients with DMD associated scoliosis, born between 1961 and 2001: 28 of which underwent correction of scoliosis via posterior spinal fusion (Surgical Group) and 37 of which did not undergo surgical intervention (Non-Surgical Group). Pulmonary function was assessed using traditional spirometry. Comparisons were made between groups at set times, and by way of rates of change over time.

Results

There was no correlation between the level of respiratory dysfunction and the severity of scoliosis (as measured by Cobb angle) for the whole cohort. The Surgical Group had significantly worse respiratory function at a comparable age pre-operatively compared to the Non-Surgical Group, as measured by per cent predicted forced vital capacity (p = 0.02) on spirometry. The rate of decline of forced vital capacity and per cent predicted forced vital capacity was not slowed following surgery compared to the non-operated cases. There was no significant difference in survival between the two groups.

Conclusions

Severity of scoliosis was not a key determinant of respiratory dysfunction. Posterior spinal fusion did not reduce the rate of respiratory function decline. These two points suggest that intrinsic respiratory muscle weakness is the main determinant of decline in respiratory function in DMD.     

Surgical management of severe scoliosis with high risk pulmonary dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: patient function, quality of life and satisfaction

In a previous study, the authors reported the clinical and radiological results of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) scoliosis surgery in 14 patients with a low FVC of <30%. The purpose of this study was to determine if surgery improved function and QOL in these patients. Furthermore, the authors assessed the patients’ and parents’ satisfaction. %FVC increased in all patients after preoperative inspiratory muscle training. Scoliosis surgery in this group of patients presented no increased risk of major complications. All-screw constructions and fusion offered the ability to correct spinal deformity in the coronal and pelvic obliquity initially, intermediate and long-term. All patients were encouraged to continue inspiratory muscle training after surgery. The mean rate of %FVC decline after surgery was 3.6% per year. Most patients and parents believed scoliosis surgery improved their function, sitting balance and quality of life even though patients were at high risk for major complications. Their satisfaction was also high.     

The effect of spinal fusion on the long-term outcome of idiopathic scoliosis. A case-control study.

We have investigated the effect of multisegmental spinal fusion on the long-term functional and radiological outcome in patients with scoliosis. We compared these patients both with those whose spine had not been fused, and with a control group. We studied 68 patients with idiopathic scoliosis (34 operative and 34 non-operative) who had been followed up for a minimum of five years after treatment. They were matched for age (mean 44 years) and Cobb angle (mean 54 degrees) at follow-up. An age- and gender-matched control group of 34 subjects was also recruited. All participants completed a questionnaire to assess spinal function and to grade the severity of back pain using a numerical rating scale. Radiographs of the spine were taken in the patients with scoliosis and lumbar degenerative changes were recorded. The spinal function scores for the patients with scoliosis who had had a fusion were similar to those who had not. Both scoliosis groups, however, had lower scores than the control group (p < 0.001). The frequency and severity of back pain were lower for patients with scoliosis and fusion than for those without, but higher for both scoliosis groups compared with the control group. Radiographs showed similar degenerative changes in both scoliosis groups.     

The Effect of Physical Training on Exercise Ability in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Twenty subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, aged 11-17 years, were studied before spinal fusion. Half the patients underwent a programme of daily physical exercises for 6-10 weeks. Before and after this period all the patients carried out a range of lung function tests and a progressive exercise test. There were no significant differences in any of the results between the control group and the training group. The cardiac and respiratory complications of spinal fusion are therefore unlikely to be lessened by preoperative physical training, except in selected subjects.     

The effect of physical training on exercise ability in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Twenty subjects with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, aged 11--17 years, were studied before spinal fusion. Half the patients underwent a programme of daily physical exercises for 6--10 weeks. Before and after this period all the patients carried out a range of lung function tests and a progressive exercise test. There were no significant differences in any of the results between the control group and the training group. The cardiac and respiratory complications of spinal fusion are therefore unlikely to be lessened by preoperative physical training, except in selected subjects.     

Cardiac and respiratory function before and after spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Ten girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were studied before and 17-23 months after spinal fusion. None had any cardiac or respiratory disease complicating the scoliosis. They underwent a range of resting lung function tests and a progressive exercise test. The mean angle of scoliosis decreased from 65.8 to 27.3 degrees after operation but the only significant physiological benefit detected in this study was a decrease in the submaximal minute ventilation. The physiological benefit of spinal fusion was therefore much less prominent than the anatomical improvement of the spinal curvature.     

牵引结合后路手术治疗重度脊柱侧凸的疗效分析

[目的]探讨Halo-股骨髁上牵引结合后路矫形对柔韧性30%～40%的重度脊柱侧凸患者的疗效.[方法]对2000年1月～2006年6月治疗的41例柔韧性30%～40%重度脊柱侧凸患者,按照是否行牵引治疗分为两组.牵引组A组 22例,主侧凸平均Cobb' s角91.2°;对照组B组 19例,主侧凸平均Cobb' s角87.5°.[结果]两组无严重神经系统并发症.A组平均牵引18 d(14～22 d)后主侧凸平均矫正46%,14例肺功能减退患者均改善.两组均行一期后路松解三维矫形术,术后C7～S1偏移值、顶椎偏移矫正A组优于B组.A组主侧凸平均矫正55.2°,B组45.7°,A组优于B组 (P<0.05). A组平均随访40个月, B组平均随访42个月,末次随访两组平均冠状面矫正丢失分别为3°、2.4°,矢状面无丢失,两组均获骨性融合.[结论]对于柔韧性30%～40%的重度脊柱侧凸,术前Halo-股骨髁上牵引可改善肺功能,结合牵引下后路松解矫形术可以获得更好的畸形矫正和躯干平衡,减少术中术后并发症. )后主侧凸平均矫正46%,14例肺功能减退患者均改善.两组均行一期后路松解三维矫形术,术后C_7～S_1偏移值、顶椎偏 矫正A组优于B组.A组主侧凸平均矫正55.2°,B组45.7°,A组优于B组 (P<0.05). A组平均随访40个月, B组平均随访42个月,末次随访两组平均冠状面矫正丢失分别为3°、2.4°,矢状面无丢失,两组均获骨性融合.[结论]对于柔韧性30%～40%的重度脊柱侧凸,术前Halo-股骨髁上牵引可改善肺功能,结合牵引下后路松解矫形术可以获得更好的畸形矫正和躯干平衡,减少术中术后并发症. )后主侧凸平均矫正46%,14例肺功能减退患者均改善.两组均行一期后路松解三     

Early changes in pulmonary function following thoracotomy for scoliosis correction: the effect of size of incision

It is generally believed that minimal access surgery may produce less change in pulmonary function than conventional open thoracotomy for scoliosis correction. Though there is considerable literature regarding changes in pulmonary function tests (PFT) after thoracotomy, there is scant data available regarding the effect of the magnitude of thoracic wall disruption on pulmonary function, particularly in the early postoperative weeks. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the size of incision on pulmonary function after anterior release and fusion in patients with moderate thoracic curves due to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The study group was made up of 19 patients with thoracic curves due to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The subjects had had thoracotomy for anterior release, followed by posterior instrumentation and fusion at a second sitting. The ten patients who had had conventional, large thoracotomy were placed in group A and the nine minimal access cases in group B. PFTs consisting of volume (FVC) and flow (FEV1) were obtained before the anterior release, 2 weeks later (before the posterior instrumented fusion), and 3 months after the posterior fusion. The degree of deformity in the sagittal and the coronal plane preoperatively and postoperatively were measured and documented. The mean preoperative pulmonary function was significantly less than the predicted values for both patient groups. There was a decline in the postoperative pulmonary function (both percentage predicted value and absolute value) in both groups at 2 weeks and at 3 months. The deterioration of pulmonary function was less in the small-thoracotomy group, but this difference between the groups was statistically significant only for the 2-week values. Our study shows that there is significant pulmonary function restriction even in patients with moderate thoracic curves. There was a lesser decline in pulmonary function in the minimal-access group, as compared with the standard thoracotomy group, but this difference was only in the early postoperative period and became insignificant by 3 months.A reviewers comment on this paper is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00586–004–0795–0     

Pulmonary function after spinal surgery for idiopathic scoliosis.

Respiratory function was assessed in 20 patients with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing spinal surgery (median age, 15 years; range, 11-34 years; median preoperative vital capacity, 67%; range, 28-109% predicted). Ten patients underwent anterior spinal surgery through a thoracotomy incision, seven of whom had posterior spinal surgery as a second-stage procedure. The other ten had posterior spinal surgery as their initial operation. Postoperatively, three patients had clinical evidence of respiratory complications. Daytime oxygen saturation was reduced throughout the first postoperative week, with no significant difference between anterior and posterior spinal surgery. Hypercapnia was unusual and generally mild. Vital capacity was reduced significantly 1 week after both anterior and posterior spinal surgery (P less than 0.05). The median vital capacity 1 week after anterior spinal surgery was 45% of preoperative values compared with 78% after posterior surgery (P less than 0.05). Inspiratory muscle strength, as assessed by sniff mouth pressure, was 56% of preoperative values 1 week after anterior spinal surgery (P less than 0.05) and 85% after posterior spinal surgery (not significant). Vital capacity, but not sniff mouth pressure, remained significantly reduced 6 weeks after surgery. Oxygen saturation should be monitored noninvasively during the first week after both anterior and posterior spinal surgery even in patients at low risk of developing respiratory complications.     

脊柱侧凸后路矫形融合术术后感染的治疗

目的评价清创术后置管冲洗、负压吸引及一期关闭伤口对脊柱侧凸后路矫形融合术术后感染的治疗效果。方法回顾1984年2月～1997年10月924例行脊柱后路矫形融合术的脊柱侧凸病例,发现感染15例,男5例,女10例,年龄11～32岁,平均17.5岁;特发性脊柱侧凸7例,先天性脊柱侧凸8例;内固定系统包括Harrington Luque3例,Harrington8例,CD4例。结果7例诊断为术后早期感染,平均发现时间为术后15d,清创术后除2例内固定物取出外,其余5例均予保留。8例迟发感染,平均发现时间为术后5.5个月,所有病例均予彻底清创,4例内固定物完全取出(其中1例因并发呼吸功能衰竭死亡),2例内固定物部分取出,2例保留。所有病例清创术后均置管持续冲洗及负压吸引,一期关闭伤口。平均置管冲洗2.8周,清创术后静脉使用抗生素19d。14例患者平均随访3.5年,未见感染复发。结论清创术后置管冲洗、负压吸引及一期关闭伤口,是治疗脊柱侧凸后路矫形融合术术后感染的有效方法。保留植入物,对多数病例并不影响对感染的控制。     

"开窗技术"治疗退行性腰椎管狭窄症融合指征

目的 探讨初次"开窗技术"治疗退行性腰椎管狭窄症融合的指征.方法 对1999年12月至2005年12月收治的145例退行性腰椎管狭窄症患者进行回顾性研究.按术前腰椎条件及手术方法分三组:A组39例,术前合并腰椎失稳运动、退变性滑脱或侧弯,行融合术;B组31例,术前合并腰椎失稳运动、退变性滑脱或侧弯,行非融合术;c组75例,术前无腰椎失稳运动、退变性滑脱或侧 弯,行非融合术.对患者住院天数、手术时间、估计出血量复发、再手术及并发症情况等进行统计分析;采用Oswestry 功能障碍指数(ODI)和疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)及满意率等进行疗效评估,并进行统计学分析.结果 所有患者随访时间均在3年以上.C组的住院时间少于A组和B组(P<0.05);A组的手术时间和估计出血量均大于B组和c组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);A、C组长 期疗效优于B组(P<0.05),而A、c两组间差异无统计学意义;三组间的复发或残余症状恶化、再手术及并发症等方面差异没有统计学意义.结论 对于术前合并腰椎失稳、滑脱或侧凸的退变性腰椎管狭窄症患者,即使初次行"开窗技术"减压,也应融合;单纯狭窄患者初次手术则无需融合.     

体感诱发电位监测在脊柱畸形Ponte截骨矫形手术中的应用

[目的]探讨体感诱发电位(SEP)监测在脊柱畸形Ponte截骨矫形手术中的应用价值.[方法]对36例因脊柱畸形行Ponte截骨矫形手术的患者进行术中SEP监测,其中男10例,女26例;年龄6.5～45.2岁,平均18.8岁.成人脊柱侧凸8例,青少年特发性脊柱侧凸14例,先天性脊柱侧凸4例.手术均采用后路Ponte截骨矫形.SEPP40波幅下降＞50％和(或)潜伏期延长超过10％或波形消失为异常标准.[结果]截骨、减压和矫形过程中8例患者出现SEPP40波异常,立即停止手术操作,寻找原因,并作相应处理.其中2例因术中出血导致血压下降,1例为胸腰段截骨,1例为中胸段截骨:另4例考虑与手术操作因素有关.2例为中胸段,2例为胸腰段.2例同时有波幅下降＞50％和潜伏期延长超过10％患者.1例成人脊柱侧凸患者术后出现短期的神经功能障碍,1例成人脊柱侧凸患者术后神经功能正常.[结论]术中体感诱发电位监测可作为指示Ponte截骨矫形术中脊髓功能的重要手段,敏感性较高,对其变化应积极应对并正确处理,以避免脊髓损伤.     

The use of autologous blood in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders.

A program of autologous blood transfusion in 101 patients who underwent spinal surgery was analyzed. Autologous transfusion was achieved by intraoperative blood salvage using a cell saver and with predeposited blood. The techniques of predeposition of blood included freezing the blood and using a storage solution. Forty-eight patients had scoliosis and received mainly cryopreserved autologous blood and 53 patients had other spinal diseases. Surgery was performed using only autologous blood transfusion in more than 90% of all patients cases. The program was well tolerated by the patients and easily managed by the blood center staff. There were no severe complications associated with this program. The use of instrumentation and extensive spinal fusion were found to be factors associated with increased intraoperative blood loss. This finding suggests that instrumentation surgery and extensive spinal fusion are indications for autologous blood transfusion. Cryopreserved autologous blood transfusion is an effective method for storing a sufficient volume of blood for scoliosis surgery without affecting the patients' preoperative hemodynamic status.     

Effect of spinal surgery on lung function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND--The effect on subsequent respiratory function of spinal stabilisation for scoliosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is unclear. In order to clarify this clinical problem, changes in the forced vital capacity of a group of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who had undergone spinal surgery were measured and compared with a group of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who had not had surgery. METHODS--In this retrospective study 17 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who underwent spinal stabilisation at a mean age of 14.9 years (surgical group) were compared with 21 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who had not had surgery (non-surgical group). The mean (SD) Cobb angle of the surgical group at 14.9 years was 57 (16.4) degrees, and of the non-surgical group at 15 years was 45 (29.9) degrees. Forced vital capacity expressed as percentage predicted (% FVC) was measured in total over a seven year period in the surgical group and over 6.5 years in the non-surgical group, and regression equations were calculated. Survival curves for both groups were also constructed. RESULTS--No difference was found between spinal stabilisation (surgical group) and the non-surgical group in the rate of deterioration of % FVC which was 3-5% per year. There was no difference in survival in either group. CONCLUSIONS--Spinal stabilisation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy does not alter the decline in pulmonary function, nor does it improve survival.     

TSRH内固定治疗脊柱侧凸

目的　回顾性研究TSRH(TexasScottishRiteHospital)脊柱内固定系统在治疗脊柱侧凸的临床疗效。 方法　对 1998年 1月至 2 0 0 0年 12月手术治疗的 12 9例脊柱侧凸患者 ,总结其侧弯矫形、脊柱平衡、并发症及 3年以上的随访结果。根据手术方法不同 ,共分为 4组。A组 :单纯脊柱后路融合固定术 ;B组 :单纯脊柱前路融合固定术 ;C组 :分期前、后路融合固定术 ;D组 :Ⅰ期前、后路融合固定术。四组患者均应用TSRH内固定系统。手术时平均年龄 14 .2岁 (6～ 5 5岁 ) ,平均随访 34个月。结果　A组 :78例病人行单纯脊柱后路融合TSRH内固定 ,术后平均矫形率为6 3.4 %。随访 38个月 (2 4～ 5 0个月 ) ,平均矫形丢失 7°,矫形丢失率平均 9.5 %。本组并发症发生率为 12 .8% ,包括 3例脱钩 ,3例螺钉断裂 (共 6枚螺钉 ) ,1例术后侧弯失代偿 ,1例术后发生曲轴现象。B组 :2 2例患者行单纯脊柱前路融合、短节段TSRH内固定 ,平均矫形率为 74 .8%。平均随访 36个月 ,平均矫形率丢失 5 %。 2例发生一过性交感神经损伤。术后 6个月内均自然恢复。C组 :17例有 90°以上的侧弯 ,且Bending像上侧弯仍大于 7°的患者行前路松解 ,2～ 3周后再行后路融合TSRH内固定。本组平均手术时间 8.3h ,出血 935ml,输血 6 83ml,平均矫形 33.6°,矫     

Postoperative Respiratory Complications in Non-Idiopathic Scoliosis

The medical records of 303 patients undergoing fusions for scoliosis correction were retrospectively reviewed. The frequency and type of postoperative respiratory complications were compared in idiopathic versus non-idiopathic scoliosis patients in relation to age, type of spinal fusion procedure, pulmonary function test (PFT) results and preoperative diagnoses. The following factors were found to increase the incidence of problems in the postoperative period: a non-idiopathic type of scoliosis, mental retardation, anterior spinal fusion procedures, age of 20 or more years, a relative arterial hypoxemia and an obstructive component to the PFT's. Topics for further investigation are suggested.     

Postoperative spinal wound infection: a review of 2,391 consecutive index procedures

Postoperative infection remains a troublesome but not uncommon complication after spinal surgery. Most previous reports, however, are small or involve cases with more than one surgeon often at different institutions. This study represents a single surgeon's 9-year experience with postoperative infection at one institution. The authors describe the features of wound infection after spinal surgery with reference to diagnosis, microbiology, and treatment and they describe a protocol for effective management of postoperative spinal wound infection. The records of the senior author (F.P.C.) during a 9-year period for cases of postoperative wound infection were reviewed. Of 2,391 operative procedures, 46 cases of wound infection were identified, yielding an overall infection rate of 1.9%. Patients' preoperative risk factors, original diagnosis prompting the surgery, onset of infection, presentation, treatment, and outcome were analyzed. The mean age of the 23 men and 23 women was 57.2 years. The preoperative diagnoses included lumbar degenerative scoliosis or spinal stenosis in 28 cases, disk prolapse in 8 cases, metastatic disease in 4 cases, degenerative disk disease in 1 case, and a group of 5 miscellaneous cases. Seventeen (37%) of the patients underwent at least one previous spinal surgery at the same site. Twenty-three patients had a fusion, of whom 22 also had instrumentation. Forty-three (93%) of the patients had significant wound drainage after an average of 15 days (range, 5-80 days). The other three patients were examined approximately 2 years after the surgery. Fourteen of the patients also had pyrexia (temperature >37.5 degrees C) at presentation. Staphylococcus aureus alone was cultured in 29 patients, whereas another six patients had a different single organism. In nine patients, more than one organism was cultured during their hospital stay. Surgical treatment included primary closure in only seven patients, with most undergoing wound drainage and debridement followed by delayed closure. Instruments were removed in the three patients with late presentation who had solid fusion at operation. Viable bone graft and instrumentation were left in situ in all patients who were seen before fusion. All wounds healed without sequelae, except for three that required flap closure. Pseudarthrosis was noted in three patients after more than 1 year of follow-up in this series. Postoperative spinal wound infection is a potentially devastating problem. In this series, infection was more common in patients undergoing fusion with instrumentation and in patients with cancer metastatic to the spine. An aggressive surgical approach, including repeated debridement followed by delayed closure, is justified. Instrumentation may be safely left in situ to provide stability for fusion.     

脊柱畸形手术失败原因与对策

目的探讨脊柱矫形手术失败原因、预防措施、处理方法及翻修手术适应证。方法31例患者,男18例,女13例;翻修手术时年龄4～35岁,平均14.7岁;既往平均手术史1.5次。初次手术距翻修手术时间平均47.9个月(13～114个月)。术前出现腰背部酸困疼痛、活动后加重16例,内植物并发症(断裂、松脱或外露等)5例,畸形进行性加重21例,下肢部分肌力和感觉障碍5例。翻修术前平均侧凸角75.3°,脊柱柔韧性9.8%;后凸角76°,柔韧性25.2%。分别采用脊椎截骨、椎弓根螺钉固定,原位固定和分期手术治疗。结果20例患者平均随访31.8个月,侧后凸平均矫正率分别为55.2%和67.5%。手术并发症:出现暂时性神经功能障碍4例(12.9%),经脱水、激素和电脉冲刺激等治疗,均在术后1～3周内得到完全恢复;内植物断裂2例,无其他严重并发症。结论正确掌握脊柱矫形手术治疗原则、良好的植骨融合、对先天性侧凸进行必要的内固定以及避免过早拆除内固定等,是防止矫形手术失败的有效手段。对有顽固性腰背痛、脊柱假关节和术后畸形进行性加重者,应根据患者年龄、畸形程度和脊柱柔韧性,采用不同的治疗方法。     

Lung volumes in scoliosis before and after correction by the Harrington instrumentation method.

Studies of static lung volumes were performed before and after surgery in 92 scoliotic patients, aged 10 to 25 years. The majority of the patients had idiopathic dorsal curves. Vital capacity, total lung capacity, functional residual capacity and residual volume were measured at least 18 months after surgery. A significant increase was observed in all static volumes, averaging 10 per cent; the pre- and postoperative values were expressed in per cent of predicted normal values according to age and height. Correction of body height was taken into consideration in the prediction of normal values. Patients with the more advanced scoliosis had the greatest improvement in lung volumes. The patients were treated postoperatively with a Milwaukee brace for an average of 15 months. The use of this brace, which allows for chest expansions, might account for the improved lung function compared to previous series where plaster body jackets were used. Thus the correction of idiopathic scoliosis by the standard posterior fusion with Harrinton instrumentation together with our postoperative routine provides a lasting reduction of the spinal deformity, prevents progression of respiratory impairment and, in fact, increases the lung volumes, vital capacity, total lung capacity and functional residual capacity by an average of 10 per cent.