Limitations of Anterior Instrumentation for Correction of Thoracic Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in the Immature (Risser 0) Patient

· (a – DePuy AcroMed)

Purpose: To review the results of anterior and posterior instrumentation in 40 immature patients with thoracic AIS (29 anterior, 31 posterior). Inclusion criteria: thoracic AIS; Lenke, et al. Type I curves; Risser 0; minimum 2-year follow-up. The mean coronal percent correction was 59% in the anterior group and 61% in the posterior group. If the lateral T5-T12 measured < 20º preoperatively, 100% were in the normal range (20-40º) postoperatively with anterior instrumentation and 60% were still hypokyphotic with posterior instrumentation. Hyperkyphosis is a contraindication, as these children did better with posterior instrumentation.

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