[The efficacy of third-generation instrumentation for the treatment of adult scoliosis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of third generation spinal instrumentation such as TSRH, CD and ISOLA for the treatment of adult scoliosis.


METHODS
Thirty-five adult scoliosis patients including adult idiopathic and degenerative scoliosis were all surgically treated with third generation instrumentation such as TSRH, CD and ISOLA from July 1999 to January 2003. Preoperative mean cobb angles of major curves of the frontal plane was 58.1 degrees (42 degrees -95 degrees ). The patients received anterior combined with posterior correction or single posterior procedure. Mean follow-up was 20 months (10 - 48 months). Preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles of the frontal plane and sagittal plane and distance between C(7) and CVSL were measured. We assessed the subjective efficacy by questionnaire.


RESULTS
Clinical appearance of all patients improved significantly. Mean correction of major curves of the coronal plane was 53.2%. Mean lost of correction of the coronal plane in the last follow-up was 4.3 degrees , distance between the midline of C(7) and CVSL was corrected from 2.6 cm to 0.24 cm. Questionnaire in the follow-up showed that 89.3% patients were satisfied with operation results. Two cases occurred pneumatothorax and haematothorax. Three cases still complained about low back pain in 1 year after operation, among which 2 were adjacent degeneration and 1 was pseudarthrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Imageology assessment and patients self-evaluation shows that the third generation instrumentation could gain good correction and trunk balance in the treatment for adult scoliosis. And patients are more satisfied and have less complications.
Li
Ming
M
Department of Orthopaedic, Changhai Hospital, Second Military University, Shanghai 200433, China. limingch@21cn.com
Liu
Yang
Y
Ni
Chun-Hong
CH
Zhu
Xiao-Dong
XD
Bai
Yu-Shu
YS
Zhao
Xin-Gang
XG
Hou
Tie-Sheng
TS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome