Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2009):

Surgical treatment of main thoracic scoliosis with thoracoscopic anterior instrumentation. Surgical technique.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: The surgical outcomes in patients with scoliosis at two years following anterior thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation and fusion have been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results at five years. METHODS: A consecutive series of forty-one patients with major thoracic scoliosis treated with anterior thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation was evaluated at regular intervals. Prospectively collected data included patient demographics, radiographic measurements, clinical deformity measures, pulmonary function, an assessment of intervertebral fusion, and the scores on the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-24) outcomes instrument. Perioperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Patient data for the preoperative, two-year, and five-year postoperative time points were compared. In addition, a univariate analysis compared selected two-year radiographic, pulmonary function, and SRS-24 data of the study cohort and those of the patients lost to follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-five (61%) of the original forty-one patients had five-year follow-up data and were included in the analysis. Between the two-year and five-year follow-up visits, no significant changes were observed with regard to the average percent correction of the major Cobb angle (56% +/- 11% and 52% +/- 14%, respectively), average total lung capacity as a percent of the predicted value (95% +/- 14% and 91% +/- 10%), and the average total SRS-24 score (4.2 +/- 0.4 and 4.1 +/- 0.7). Radio-graphic evaluation of intervertebral fusion at five years revealed convincing evidence of a fusion with remodeling and trabeculae present at 151 (97%) of the 155 instrumented motion segments. No postoperative infections or clinically relevant neurovascular complications were observed. Rod failure occurred in three patients, and three patients required a surgical revision with posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic anterior instrumentation for main thoracic idiopathic scoliosis results in five-year outcomes comparable with those reported previously for open anterior and posterior techniques. The radiographic findings, pulmonary function, and clinical measures remain stable between the two and five-year follow-up time points. Thoracoscopic instrumentation provides a viable alternative to treat spinal deformity; however, the risks of pseudarthrosis, hardware failure, and surgical revision should be considered along with the advantages of limited muscular dissection and improved scar appearance.

Author information

Author/s: Newton, Peter O (PO); Upasani, Vidyadhar V (VV); Lhamby, Juliano (J); Ugrinow, Valerie L (VL); Pawelek, Jeff B (JB); Bastrom, Tracey P (TP);

Affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rady Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, CA 92123, USA. pnewton(-atsign-)rchsd.org

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Evaluation Studies; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume (J Bone Joint Surg Am), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 91 Suppl 2 (issue ) : pp 233-48

Dates: Created 2009/10/06; Completed 2009/11/02;

PMID: 19805587, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/2/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Analysis of Variance Cohort Studies Equipment Failure Female Follow-Up Studies Humans Internal Fixators Lung Volume Measurements Male Postoperative Care Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; surgery Predictive Value of Tests Probability

Prospective Studies Radiography, Thoracic Reoperation Risk Assessment Scoliosis - radiography; surgery Severity of Illness Index Spinal Fusion - instrumentation; methods Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive - adverse effects; methods Thoracic Vertebrae - surgery Thoracoscopy - adverse effects; methods Thoracotomy - adverse effects; methods Time Factors Treatment Outcome Young Adult

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