Effect of Chêneau style braces on vertebral wedging amongst individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Background: It is generally accepted that braces can stop curve progression but little evidence exists regarding structural improvement in the spine using spinal bracing. Our study aimed to investigate the possible structural improvements of vertebral wedging with high correction bracing.Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess whether spinal brace treatment may influence vertebral wedging in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).Method: We reviewed our database according to the following inclusion criteria: girls with a diagnosis of AIS, Risser 0–2, age 10–14 years with Cobb angles greater than 35°. Our study cohort consisted of 27 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria with an average brace wearing time of 16.6 h per day and Cobb angles between 36° and 79°. The target value for our study was the apical vertebra wedging, measured twice before brace treatment commenced and twice after the average follow-up period of 20.5 months of treatment.Results: The average apex wedging noted before brace wearing started was 9.8° (median: 9) and after a period of 20.5 months of brace wearing, it had reduced to an average of 5.8° (median: 4.9), (p 0.001). This would indicate a structural correction of 44%.Conclusions: Our study supports the hypothesis that spinal high correction braces improve the degree of vertebral wedging in skeletally immature girls with AIS.Clinical implications: Structural corrections of the apical vertebra seem possible when high correction asymmetric braces are used in the treatment of patients with AIS.

Maximal Axial Vertebral Rotation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Is the Apical Vertebra the Most Rotated?

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Objectives: It is generally believed that the apical vertebra has the largest axial rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. We investigated the relationship between apical axial vertebral rotation (apicalAVR) and maximal axial vertebral rotation (maxAVR) in both major and minor curves using biplanar stereo-imaging. Methods: EOS 2D/3D biplanar radiograph images were collected from 332 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (Cobb angle range 10°-122°, mean age 14.7 years). Based on the X-ray images, with the help of 3D full spine reconstructions Cobb angle, curvature level, apicalAVR and maxAVR were determined. These parameters were also determined for minor curves in Lenke 2, 3, 4, 6 type patients. Maximal thoracic rotation and maximal thoracolumbar/lumbar rotation were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed with descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The apical vertebrae were the most rotated vertebra in only 40.4% of the major curves, and 31.7% in minor curves. MaxAVR significantly exceeded apicalAVR values in the major curves ( P < .001) as well as in minor curves ( P < .001). The 2 parameters differed significantly in each severity group and Lenke type. Conclusions: The apical vertebrae were not the most rotated vertebra in more than half of cases investigated indicating that apicalAVR and maxAVR should be considered as 2 distinct parameters, of which maxAVR fully describes the axial dimension of scoliosis. Furthermore, the substitution of maxAVR for the apicalAVR should be especially avoided in double and triple curves, as the apical vertebra was even less commonly the most rotated in minor curves.

Vertebral growth modulation by posterior dynamic deformity correction device in skeletally immature patients with moderate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Study design Retrospective, comparative, multicenter. Introduction Growth modulating spinal implants are used in the management of scoliosis such as anterior vertebral body tethering. A motion-sparing posterior device (PDDC) was recently approved for the treatment of moderate AIS. The purpose of this study was to determine if the PDDC can modulate growth in skeletally immature patients with AIS. Methods From a database of patients treated with the PDDC over 4 years, we identified those who had a minimum of 2 years follow-up. Pre-operative and post-operative Cobb angles and coronal plane wedging of the apical vertebra were evaluated on standing full length radiographs. Independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey HSD analysis was used to compare three groups in varying skeletal maturity: Risser 0–1, Risser 2–3, and Risser 4–5. Results 45 patients (14.2-years old, 11–17) were evaluated with a mean pre-op curve of 46° (35°-66°). The average preoperative major curve magnitude, of either Lenke 1 or 5 curve type, was similar among the three groups 47.6°, 46° and 41.5°. Deformity correction was similar in the three groups, with reduction to 26.4°, 20.4° and 26.2°, respectively, at final follow-up [p < 0.05]. Pre-op wedging 7.4° (3.8°–15°) was reduced after surgery to 5.7° (1°–15°) (p < 0.05). Of those patients, Risser 0–1 (n = 16) had preoperative wedging of 9.5° (6°–14.5°) that was reduced to 5.4° (1°–8°) postoperatively (p < 0.05); Risser 2–3 (n = 15) had pre-op 7.7° (4°–15°) vs. post-op 7.0° (3°–15°); Risser 4–5 (n = 14) had pre-op 4.8° (3.8°–6.5°) vs. post-op 4.7° (3.7°–6.5°). Delta Wedging in Risser 0–1 stage was significantly different than for Risser 2–3 and for Risser 4–5. Conclusion The posterior dynamic deformity correction device was able to modulate vertebral body wedging in skeletally immature patients with AIS. This was most evident in patients who were Risser 0–1. In contrast, curve correction was similar among the three groups. This finding lends support to the device’s ability to modulate growth.

Is the apical vertebra the most rotated vertebra in the scoliotic curve?

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to determine if the apical vertebra (AV) in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most rotated vertebra in the scoliotic segment.METHODSA total of 158 patients with AIS (Cobb angle range 20°–101°) underwent biplanar radiography with 3D reconstructions of the spine and calculation of vertebral axial rotations. The type of major curvature was recorded (thoracic, thoracolumbar, or lumbar), and both major and minor curvatures were included. The difference of levels (DL) between the level of maximal vertebral rotation (LMVR) and the AV was calculated as follows: DL = 0 if LMVR and AV were the same, DL = 1 if LMVR was directly above or below the AV, and DL = 2 if LMVR was separated by 1 vertebra or more from the AV. To investigate which factors explained the divergence of the LMVR from the AV, multinomial models were computed.RESULTSThe distribution of the DL was as follows: for major curvatures, 143 were DL = 0, 11 were DL = 1, and 4 were DL = 2; and for minor curvatures, 53 were DL = 0, 9 were DL = 1, and 31 were DL = 2. The determinants of a DL = 2 (compared with DL = 0) were lumbar curvature (compared with thoracic; adjusted OR 0.094, p = 0.001), major curvature (compared with minor; adjusted OR 0.116, p = 0.001), and curvatures with increasing apical vertebral rotation (adjusted OR 0.788, p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSThis study showed that the AV is the most rotated vertebra in the majority of major curvatures, while in minor curvatures, the most rotated vertebra appears to be the junctional vertebra between major and minor curvatures in a significant proportion of cases.

Surgical correction of severe forms of idiopathic kyphoscolyosis in children

Background. Significant results have been achieved through the use of hybrid and transpedicular metal structures. However, when spinal systems are implanted during surgery in patients with severe forms and idiopathic scoliosis, a number of limitations arise. Not only the performance of corrective maneuvers during the operation but also the creation of mobility on the top of the main arc accompany the strategies of surgical treatment. Traditionally, mobilizing discectomy at the top of the spark is performed in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Pedicle subtractional vertebrotomy and Ponte and Smith-Petersen osteotomy are most common in neuromuscular scoliosis and spinal deformity, with a predominance of the kyphotic component. Problems with correction of extremely low and neglected forms and idiopathic scoliosis in children remain. Aim. The present study aimed to provide a comparative analysis between using transpedicular spinal systems alone and in combination with a wedge osteotomy of the apical vertebra to correct spinal deformity in children with extremely severe right-sided idiopathic thoracic scoliosis. Materials and methods. The surgical treatment results of 20 children 15 to 17 years old with extremely severe forms of right-sided idiopathic thoracic kyphoscoliosis were included in the analysis. All patients underwent standard preoperative examination, including radiology, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and neurophysiological studies. The patients were divided into two groups according to the method used during the second stage of surgical treatment correction of deformity with the transpedicular system (1) alone or (2) in combination with a wedge osteotomy of the apical vertebra. Results. Patients from the first group showed an amount of scoliotic and kyphotic component correction ranging from 25% to 62% and from 21% to 56%, respectively. In patients from the second group, who underwent additional wedge osteotomy of the apical vertebrae during the operation, correction of the scoliotic and kyphotic components ranged from 36% to 74% and from 50% to 70%, respectively. Conclusion. In children with idiopathic thoracic kyphoscoliosis, performing a wedge corpectomy of the apical vertebral body is an effective additional mobilizing component, which allows achieving significant correction of both scoliotic and kyphotic curve components, restoring the physiological profile of the spine and body balance during the surgical intervention, and maintaining the achieved result during the long-term observation period.