Seth C. Ransom, Zach Pennington, Nolan J. Brown, Shane Shahrestani, Jessica Ryvlin, Ali Shoustari, John C. Hagen, Anthony L. Mikula, Nikita Lakomkin, Luis D. Diaz-Aguilar, Benjamin D. Elder, Joseph A. Osorio, Martin H. Pham
Neurospine 2024;21(2):458-473. Published online June 30, 2024
Adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS) is a coronal plane deformity often accompanied by sagittal plane malalignment. Surgical correction may involve the major and/or distally-located fractional curves (FCs). Correction of the FC has been increasingly recognized as key to ameliorating radicular pain localized to the FC levels. The present study aims to summarize the literature on the rationale for FC correction in ADS. Three databases were systematically reviewed to identify all primary studies reporting the rationale for correcting the FC in ADS. Articles were included if they were English full-text studies with primary data from ADS ( ≥ 18 years old) patients. Seventy-four articles were identified, of which 12 were included after full-text review. Findings suggest FC correction with long-segment fusion terminating at L5 increases the risk of distal junctional degeneration as compared to constructs instrumenting the sacrum. Additionally, circumferential fusion offers greater FC correction, lower reoperation risk, and shorter construct length. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques may offer effective radiographic correction and improve leg pain associated with foraminal stenosis on the FC concavity, though experiences are limited. Open surgery may be necessary to achieve adequate correction of severe, highly rigid deformities. Current data support major curve correction in ASD where the FC concavity and truncal shift are concordant, suggesting that the FC contributes to the patient’s overall deformity. Circumferential fusion and the use of kickstand rods can improve correction and enhance the stability and durability of long constructs. Last, MIS techniques show promise for milder deformities but require further investigation.
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Objective The purpose of this study is to highlight our technique for freehand placement of juxtapedicular screws along with intraoperative computed tomography (CT) and radiographic results.
Methods Consecutive patients with adult idiopathic scoliosis undergoing primary surgery by the senior author were identified. All type D (absent/slit like channel) pedicles were identified on preoperative CT. Three-dimensional visualization software was used to measure screw angulation and purchase. Radiographs were measured by a fellowship trained spine surgeon. The freehand technique was used to place all screws in a juxtapedicular fashion without any fluoroscopic, radiographic, navigational or robotic assistance.
Results Seventy-three juxtapedicular screws were analyzed. The most common level was T7 (9 screws) on the left and T5 (12 screws) on the right. The average medial angulation was 20.7° (range, 7.1°–36.3°), lateral vertebral body purchase was 13.4 mm (range, 0–28.9 mm), and medial vertebral body purchase was 21.1 mm (range, 8.9–31.8 mm). More than half (53.4%) of the screws had bicortical purchase. Two screws were lateral on CT scan, defined by the screw axis lateral to the lateral vertebral body cortex. No screws were medial. There was a difference in medial angulation between screws with (n = 58) and without (n = 15) lateral body purchase (22.0 ± 4.9 vs. 15.5 ± 4.5, p < 0.001). Three of 73 screws were repositioned after intraoperative CT. There were no neurovascular complications. The mean coronal cobb corrections for main thoracic and lumbar curves were 83.0% and 80.5%, respectively, at an average of 17.5 months postoperative.
Conclusion Freehand juxtapedicular screw placement is a safe technique for type D pedicles in adult idiopathic scoliosis patients.
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