title: Selection of fusion levels in idiopathic adolescent scoliosis treated by Harrington-DDT instrumentation: a short-term radiologic study.
abstract: Clinical records and radiographs of 106 patients treated by Harrington-dorsal transverse traction (DDT) instrumentation for idiopathic adolescent thoracolumbar scoliosis were reviewed. Our strategy was to fuse from one vertebra above the measured curve to two vertebrae below the curve, but to avoid fusions below the third lumbar vertebra. With this strategy, the lower level of fusion rarely coincided with the stable vertebra. In King type 2 and type 3 scolioses, the best results were obtained when the lower fusion level coincided with the stable vertebra. In King type 4 and in most King type 5 scolioses, the lower level of fusion was two or three vertebrae short of the stable vertebra; nevertheless, we obtained good corrections. We conclude that in King type 4 and type 5 scolioses extensive lumbar fusion can be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014143:Traction