Effects of Spinal Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis on Lower Body Kinematics During Gait.

Study Design: Prospective.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare gait among patients with scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSFI) to typically developing subjects and determine if the location of the lowest instrumented vertebra impacted results.

Summary Of Background Data: PSFI is the standard of care for correcting spine deformities, allowing the preservation of body equilibrium while maintaining as many mobile spinal segments as possible.

Serial Mehta Cast Utilization in Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis: Evaluation of Radiographic Predictors.

Background: Mehta cast utilization has gained a considerable momentum as a nonoperative treatment modality for the initial management of infantile idiopathic scoliosis (IIS). Despite its acceptance, there is paucity of data that characterize the radiographic parameters associated with Mehta casting and the factors correlated with a sustained curve correction.

Methods: A retrospective review of IIS patients who underwent Mehta casting was performed with a mean 2-year follow-up.

Serial Derotational Casting in Idiopathic and Non-Idiopathic Progressive Early-Onset Scoliosis.

Introduction: Serial derotational casting has been used as a definitive treatment or as delaying strategy in progressive idiopathic (IS) and non-idiopathic (NIS) early-onset scoliosis (EOS).

Methods: Retrospective chart and radiographic review of patients who underwent serial casting for progressive EOS between 2005 and 2012 at a single institution.

Results: A total of 74 consecutive patients entered serial cast treatment.

Effect of Lowest Instrumented Vertebra on Trunk Mobility in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing a Posterior Spinal Fusion.

Study Design: Prospective.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of posterior spinal fusion surgery terminating at different lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV) on trunk mobility in individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Summary Of Background Data: Posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation is the standard surgical technique employed in AIS for correcting spine deformities with Cobb angles exceeding 50°.

Behavior of scoliosis during growth in children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Background: Spinal deformities are common in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta, a heritable disorder that causes bone fragility. The purpose of this study was to describe the behavior of spinal curvature during growth in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta and establish its relationship to disease severity and medical treatment with bisphosphonates.

Methods: The medical records and radiographs of 316 patients with osteogenesis imperfecta were retrospectively reviewed.

Challenges of spine surgery in patients with chondrodysplasia punctata.

Background: Chondrodysplasia punctata (CDP) is a common manifestation of an etiologically heterogenous group of disorders. There is very little data regarding the development and management of spinal deformity in patients with CDP. The purpose of this study was to present a multicenter series of CDP, to describe the surgical outcomes of spinal deformities in CDP patients and to emphasize important considerations that may influence choice of surgical treatment of spinal deformity in this patient population.

The efficacy of preoperative halo-gravity traction in pediatric spinal deformity the effect of traction duration.

Study Design: Retrospective case review

Objective: To assess the appropriate length of halo-gravity traction that provides the most preoperative correction and minimizes halo associated complications.

Summary Of Background: Rapid correction of severe scoliosis increases the risk of neurological compromise. To minimize complications, some patients undergo preoperative halo traction providing gradual correction before definitive management.

Convex hemiepiphysiodesis: the limits of vertebral stapling.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with nonadolescent idiopathic scoliosis who underwent open vertebral stapling for treatment of spinal deformity.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of vertebral stapling in patients with scoliosis. Measurements included initial deformity correction and maintenance of correction.

Infection after spinal fusion for pediatric spinal deformity: thirty years of experience at a single institution.

Study Design: A retrospective, consecutive case study of 1571 pediatric patients who underwent spinal deformity surgery and had minimum 2-year follow-up.

Objective: To identify (1) the rate of infection after pediatric spinal deformity surgery; (2) the number of surgeries required to treat a postoperative infection after a pediatric spinal deformity surgery; (3) the percentage of patients with a postoperative infection after pediatric spinal deformity surgery who require implant removal to quantify the effect of removal on the deformity; and (4) the microbiology of postoperative infections after pediatric spinal deformity surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Several previous reports have discussed the rates of infection after spinal surgery for pediatric spinal deformity.

Iatrogenic thoracic outlet syndrome secondary to vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib expansion thoracoplasty: pathogenesis and strategies for prevention/treatment.

Background: An innovative treatment for thoracic insufficiency syndrome involves a vertical expansion of the chest wall through a horizontal chest wall osteotomy maintained by a distraction device (vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib or VEPTR). Upper-extremity neurovascular dysfunction has been reported after expansion. The purposes of this study are to identify potential etiologies for compression of the brachial plexus after expansion thoracoplasty and to suggest strategies to reduce the incidence of this complication.

Evaluation and management of high-grade spondylolisthesis in adults.

Study Design: A retrospective review was performed on 21 adult patients surgically treated with high-grade spondylolisthesis (Grade III, IV, or V). Additionally, the natural history, classification, and surgical alternatives for high-grade spondylolisthesis in the adult are discussed through literature review.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to review the clinical and radiographic outcomes of surgical treatment of high-grade spondylolisthesis in the adult from a single institution.

New concepts on the pathogenesis and classification of spondylolisthesis.

Study Design: A review of the literature in the English language pertaining to the pathogenesis and classification of spondylolisthesis.

Objective: To review the morphology and biomechanics of the lumbosacral junction as it relates to spondylolisthesis. To present contemporary theories of the development and progression of spondylolisthesis and an etiology-based classification system.

Long structural allografts in the treatment of anterior spinal column defects.

A retrospective study of 41 patients who had anterior spinal column reconstruction using long-segment allografts between 1983 and 1998 is reported. A long-segment allograft was defined as an allograft strut that replaces a vertebral body or approximates the height of the adjacent vertebral body for the thoracolumbar or lumbar spine, or more than two vertebral bodies for the cervical or cervicothoracic spine. Forty of the 41 patients had successful anterior strut grafting with radiographic evidence of allograft incorporation at the last followup with the majority of patients having radiographic evidence of incorporation by 6 months.