ONE-STAGE ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR HEMIVERTEBRAL RESECTION AND ARTHRODESIS FOR CONGENITAL SCOLIOSIS

Seven children who had congenital scoliosis due to a single, fully segmented lumbar hemivertebra were treated with single-stage anterior and posterior vertebral resection and arthrodesis. The scoliosis averaged 47 degrees preoperatively, 14 degrees postoperatively, and 15 degrees (approximately 70 per cent correction) after an average follow-up of 45.6 months. Four patients had thoracolumbar kyphosis preoperatively, and it remained unchanged at the most recent follow-up examination. Postoperatively, a cast was worn for twelve to sixteen weeks, after which a brace was applied. There were no neurological deficits, infections, deaths, or pseudoarthroses. The combined procedure was well tolerated and, in the limited period of follow-up, the congenital scoliosis did not progress.