title: Operative treatment of scoliosis with the Harrington instrumentation technique.
abstract: Preliminary results of treatment of scoliosis with the Harrington instrumentation technique in 80 patients are presented. The curve correction at operation averaged 43.4% with the best results being achieved in idiopathic single curves (49.3%). Most of the patients had been treated conservatively for a long time prior to operation, and the curves were rather stiff. The initial loss of correction was 3.2 degrees, and the overall loss at 2 years postoperatively averaged 6.5 degrees in 28 patients. Complications occurred in 22.5% of the patients, most often at the upper hook site. Serious complications were rare. It is concluded that the Harrington instrumentation technique is an effective means of treatment of scoliosis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D009983:Orthopedic Equipment; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*