Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.9(2) > 1036052

Suk, Kim, Lee, Chung, Nah, Lee, Kim, Park, Chung, and Won: Determination of Distal Fusion Level with Segmental Pedicle Screw Fixation in Single Thoracic Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Objectives

To determine the exact distal fusion level in the treatment of single thoracic idiopathic scoliosis (King III and IV) with segmental pedicle screw fixation and rod rotation.

Summary of Literature Review

Pedicle screw fixation effectively shortens the distal fusion extent by improved 3- D deformity correction. However, the selection of distal fusion extent remains controversial in single thoracic idiopathic scoliosis.

Material and Methods

Forty- two single thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients subject to segmental pedicle screw fixation and rod rotation with minimum followup of 2 years (2∼6 years) were analyzed. The patients were grouped according to the distal fusion level with reference to the standing neutral vertebra (NV) for comparison of deformity correction, radiological and clinical spinal balance using standing radiographs. Distal fusion down to NV +1 was in 9 patients, NV in 5, NV- 1 in 9, NV-2 in 12 and NV- 3 in 7 patients respectively.

Results

Preoperative 50± 11° of thoracic deformity was corrected to 13± 5° showing 74% of curve correction. Preoperative 23± 7° of lumbar deformity was corrected to 2± 8° showing 93% of curve correction. Postoperative adding on deformity was obtained in 14 patients. Significant difference was found not by King classification but by distal fusion level: significantly higher chance of unsatisfactory results from not going to the NV- 1(p=0.001).

Conclusions

In correction of single thoracic idiopathic scoliosis with segmental pedicle screw fixation, the curve should be fused to NV- 1saving one or more motion segments when compared to the fusion to the stable vertebra.

REFERENCES

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Figures and Tables%

Fig. 1-A.
Preoperative standing anteroposterior radiograph of a 15.8 year old female with 50。 thoracic and 32。 lumbar fractional curve. As determined by the spinous process and pedicle shadows, the neutral vertebrae was L1. Fig. 1-B. Preoperative standing lateral radiograph. Fig. 1-C. Anteroposterior radiograph taken 3.5 years after surgery. The distal fusion was down to neutral vertebra(NV). The thoracic curve is corrected to 10。 with 9。 lumbar fractional curve and balanced spine. Fig. 1-D. Lateral radiograph taken 3.5 years after surgery.
jkss-9-98f1.tif
Fig. 2-A.
Preoperative standing anteroposterior radiograph of a 12.4 year old female with 58。 thoracic and 30。 lumbar fractional curve. As determined by the spinous process and pedicle shadows, the neutral vertebrae was L3. Fig. 2-B. Preoperative standing lateral radiograph. The thoracic spine was hypokyphotic, 4。 of kyphosis. Fig. 2-C. Anteroposterior radiograph taken 4 years after surgery. The distal fusion was down to NV-1 (one level proximal to neutral vertebra). The thoracic curve is corrected to 3。 with 29。 lumbar fractional curve and balanced spine. Fig. 2-D. Lateral radiograph taken 4 years after surgery. The thoracic kyphosis was improved to 25。.
jkss-9-98f2.tif
Fig. 3-A.
Preoperative standing anteroposterior radiograph of a 14.8 year old female with 51。 thoracic and 21。 lumbar fractional curve. As determined by the spinous process and pedicle shadows, the neutral vertebrae was L3. Fig. 3-B. Preoperative standing lateral radiograph. Fig. 3-C. Anteroposterior radiograph taken 2 weeks after surgery. The distal fusion was down to NV-2 (two level proximal to neutral vertebra). The thoracic curve was corrected to 14。 with 2。 lumbar fractional curve and balanced spine. Fig. 3-D. Anteroposterior radiograph taken 3 years after surgery. The lumbar fractional curve shows reversal, resulting in extension of the index thoracic curve into the lumbar segments through adding on. Fig. 3-E. Lateral radiograph taken 3 years after surgery.
jkss-9-98f3.tif
Table 1.
Preoperative and postoperative curve characteristics.
Type III Type IV Total
No. of Patients 32 10 42
Thoracic
Preoperative Curves 47.7± 7.9。 58.8± 13.6。 50.3± 10.5。
(40~67) (41~85) (40~85)
Postoperative Curves 12.1± 5.3。 16.2± 4.4。 13.0± 5.3。
(2~23) (8~22) (2~23)
Correction Rate 74.7± 10.2% 71.7± 8.4% 74.0± 9.8%
(47.7~95.6) (53.7~86.9) (47.7~95.6)
Lumbar
Preoperative Curves 22.7± 7.2。 25.4± 6.5。 23.4± 7.0。
(12~49) (15~35) (12~49)
Postop. Curves 2.5± 7.8。 2.1± 7.6。 2.4± 7.7。
(-12~17) (-12~14) (-12~17)
Correction Rate 93.1± 35.6% 94.2± 31.0% 93.4± 34.2%
(47.4~180.0) (53.3~157.1) (47.4~180.0)
Postoperative spinal balance 27/32 8/10 35/42
Postoperative lumbar adding on deformity 9/32 5/10 14/42
Table 2.
Comparison between satisfactory and unsatisfactory results.
Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Type III 23/32 (72%) 9/32 (28%)
Type IV 5/10 (50%) 5/10 (50%)
NV-EV 1.7± 1.6 3.3± 0.9
DF 13.0± 1.1 13.3± 1.1
DF-NV -0.4± 1.3 -2.4± 0.5
DF-EV 1.3± 0.6 0.9± 1.0
DF-SV -1.9± 1.3 -2.6± 0.8
Thoracic Curve
Preoperative 50.6± 9.4。 49.6± 12.9。
Flexibility 64.4± 8.0% 61.3± 9.0%
Postoperative 12.7± 5.5。 12.8± 5.0。
Correction Rate 75.2± 9.4% 71.6± 10.5%
Lumbar Curve
Preoperative 24.6± 7.0。 20.9± 6.7。
Flexibility 115.5± 17.3% 120.8± 27.4%
Postoperative 4.9± 5.5。 -2.6± 9.0。
Correction Rate 80.4± 20.4% 119.4± 41.6%

NV : neutal vertebrae

EV : end vertebra

DF : distal fusion level. L1 was counted as 13, and L2 was 14, and so on.

SV : stable vertebra

Flexibility (%) = (preoperative angle-bending angle / preoperative angle) × 100

p<0.01 in Mann-Whitney test.

Table 3.
Postoperative adding on according to the relationships between the neutral vertebra (NV) and end vertebra (EV)
NV - EV DF-NV Total Total
1 0 -1 -2 -3
0 0 / 9 (0%) 0 / 9 (0%)
1 0 0 / 5 (0%) 0 / 5 (0%)
2 0 / 6 (0%) 3 / 3 (100%) 3 / 9 (33%)
3 0 / 2 (0%) 2 / 3 (67%) 3 / 3 (100%) 5 / 8 (63%)
4 0 / 1 (0%) 3 / 4 (75%) 2 / 4 (50%) 5 / 9 (56%)
5 1 / 2 (50%) 1 / 2 (50%)
Total 0 / 9 (0%) 0 0 / 5 (0%) 0 / 9 (0%) 9 /12 (75%) 5 / 7 (71%) 14 / 42 (33%)

NV : neutal vertebrae

EV : end vertebra

DF : distal fusion level

Significant difference of postoperative spinal imbalance and adding on between fusion below NV-1 groups (NV+1, NV and NV-1 and above NV-1 groups (NV-2, NV-3) (p<0.01).

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