Intraoperative CT Scan Verification of Pedicle Screw Placement in AIS to Prevent Malpositioned Screws: Safety Benefit and Cost.

Study Design: Prospective database review.

Objectives: Determine if use of intraoperative 3D imaging of pedicle screw position provides clinical and cost benefit.

Summary Of Background: Injury or reoperation from malpositioned pedicle screws in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery occurs but is increasingly considered to be a never-event.

Are We Prescribing Our Patients Too Much Pain Medication? Best Predictors of Narcotic Usage After Spinal Surgery for Scoliosis.

Background: Physicians play a role in the current prescription drug-abuse epidemic. Surgeons often prescribe more postoperative narcotic pain medication than patients routinely need. Although narcotics are effective for severe, acute, postoperative pain, few evidence-based guidelines exist regarding the routinely required amount and duration of use post-hospital discharge.

Ponte Osteotomies With Pedicle Screw Instrumentation in the Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Study Design: Review of prospective database.

Objectives: To report the results of Ponte osteotomy with pedicle screw instrumentation for major thoracic adolescent idiopathic (AIS) curves.

Summary Of Background Data: Ponte osteotomy for achieving coronal and sagittal correction of major thoracic curves in AIS with pedicle screw instrumentation is a widespread technique, but results have not been well described.