Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of Cobb angle measurement: endplate versus pedicle as bony landmarks for measurement: a statistical analysis.

Background: The Cobb-Lippman technique measures the curve severity by measuring the angle between the upper and lower endplates of the upper-end and lower-end vertebrae, respectively, using pedicles to measure the angle when they are better visualized than the endplates. Vertebral endplates in younger children provide less distinct bony landmarks and pedicles may be more easily identifiable in these children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability of the pedicle method of the Cobb angle measurement and compare it with the conventional endplate method of measurement.

Pedicle screw-only constructs with lumbar or pelvic fixation for spinal stabilization in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Study Design: Retrospective case study.

Objective: We present a retrospective clinical study of 36 patients of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) treated for correction of scoliosis with pedicle screw-only constructs with the objective to analyze our technique, correction and maintenance of spinal and pelvic deformity, spinal fusion, the complications we encountered, and the adequacy of lumbar fixation.

Summary Of Background Data: Pedicle screw constructs have shown better deformity correction and maintenance as compared with other methods of instrumentation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Surgical treatment of lumbar tuberculous spondylodiscitis by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and posterior instrumentation.

Study Design: Retrospective case study.

Objective: We present a retrospective clinical study of 15 patients with lumbar and lumbosacral tuberculosis treated by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and posterior instrumentation. The purpose is to determine the clinical efficacy of such surgical treatment for lumbar tuberculosis.

Surgical correction and fusion using posterior-only pedicle screw construct for neuropathic scoliosis in patients with cerebral palsy: a three-year follow-up study.

Study Design: It is a retrospective study of 52 neuromuscular scoliosis patients with cerebral palsy (CP).

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and amount of correction using posterior-only pedicle screw construct.

Summary Of Background Data: Although there have been many reports in literature supporting the use of pedicle screw-only constructs for the correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, similar studies have not been reported in patients with CP.