The safety of spinal pedicle screws in children ages 1 to 12.

Background Context: Pedicle screws have shown to be a safe and effective method of spinal fixation, offering superior multiplanar correction compared with hooks or sublaminar wires in selected situations. Though only food and drug administration (FDA) approved in the adolescent population, they are commonly used in an off-label manner in the preadolescent population.

Purpose: To determine if the complication rate of the off-label use of pedicle screws for spinal fixation in the preadolescent 0- to 12-year-old population is comparable with the complication rate in the FDA-approved 13- to 18-year-old population.

The role of serial casting in early-onset scoliosis (EOS).

Background: Serial casting has demonstrated efficacy for idiopathic early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Results of casting in nonidiopathic (syndromic and congenital) EOS patients have not previously been well described.

Methods: A total of 53 patients underwent serial casting for EOS from 2005 to 2010 at a single institution.

A multidisciplinary approach improves infection rates in pediatric spine surgery.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) associated with elective pediatric spinal surgery are a commonly reported complication, increasing hospital length of stay, readmissions, operations, and financial costs. In July 2007, a multidisciplinary task force, designated Target Zero, was created to address this issue and establish prevention protocols at our institution.

Methods: A consecutive series of 394 patient charts from April 2006 to September 2008 were retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who developed an SSI secondary to elective spinal surgery.

Pathways that distinguish simple from complex scoliosis repair and their outcomes.

Purpose Of Review: Surgical management of spinal deformities in patients with neuromuscular diseases or other underlying comorbidities is often challenging, as this population is at an increased risk of experiencing complications. Identifying these patients early on in the preoperative planning process is imperative in order to improve patient outcomes.

Recent Findings: Many recent studies have identified risk factors associated with perioperative and postoperative complications, including neuromuscular diseases, genetic syndromes, traumatic nerve/muscle injuries, seizure disorders, decreased cognitive ability, poor pulmonary status, restrictive lung disease, history of frequent pneumonias, sleep apnea, malnutrition, cardiac disease, immune-compromised patients, social status, ambulatory status, and the complexity of the procedure itself.

Lowest instrumented vertebra selection in AIS.

Appropriate selection of the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) is crucial to ensure positive outcomes after surgical management of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Failure to do so can lead to curve decompensation and "adding on" of additional vertebrae to the deformity. Correct identification of the stable, end, and neutral vertebra, whether the curve(s) is structural or nonstructural, and classifying the type of curve are essential aspects of preoperative planning.