Abstract
AIS is the most popular spinal deformity to search for surgical correction. Between 1988 to 1995, there were totally 146 patients who undergone CDI for the correction. Among them 63, were due to thoracic scoliosis. In the begining, only hooks were placed in the laminar region according under the teaching of CD group. Later pedicle screws were inserted in the upper lumbar and the lower thoracic region. Fusion was mostly done using iliac bone chip. there was no external jacket or PP cast to protect the trunk. The average Cobb angle at coronal plane before surgery was 51.7 deg. After surgery, the angle became 17.3 deg. At final follow, there was 4.2 deg. loss. Thus the correction rate was 66.5%, and the correction loss was 7.7%. The Sagittal curve still could be maintain in the normal range. The axial correction rate was 31.5% for the initial 50 cases.
Complication was minimal. Four cases had mild numbness in the r’t thigh, and two of them had sl. weakness of knee extension. All resolved within one month. “Crankshaft” was detected in 4 cases. Ten cases had hardware problems. These included 2 pedicle screw breakage, and two screw back-out. Six patients had lower upward hook dislodgement. Two patients had late deep wound infection, which needed debridement and delayed removal. In summary, CDI was effective to correct the deformity in the adolescent patients.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor Jegan Krishnan. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park 5047, Australia.
