Can placement of hook at the upper instrumented level decrease the proximal junctional kyphosis risk in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis?

Objective: Proximal junctional kyphosis is a commonly encountered clinical and radiographic phenomenon after pediatric and adolescent spinal deformity surgery that may lead to postoperative deformity, pain, and dissatisfaction. The purpose of the study was to identify whether the placement of transverse process hooks is an effective way to prevent PJK.

Methods: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion between November 2015 and May 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.