title: [Vertebral column decancellation for the management of rigid scoliosis: the effectiveness and safety analysis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to explore the effectiveness and safety of vertebral column decancellation (VCD) for the management of rigid scoliosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  from May 2004 to February 2008, 32 patients with rigid scoliosis underwent VCD were reviewed. There were 12 males and 20 females with an average age of 18 years (range, 10 - 56 years). The operation techniques included multilevel vertebral body decancellation and residual intervertebral disc resection, followed by realignment and posterior correction with pedicle screws. The effectiveness was evaluated by preoperative and postoperative radiography and three-dimensional CT scan reconstruction at final follow-up. The intraoperative and postoperative complications of all patients were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a mean of 2.1 vertebrae were performed with VCD and a mean of 10.6 vertebral levels were instrumented and fused (range, 8 - 13 vertebrae). The mean duration of surgery was 270 minutes (range, 215 - 380 minutes). The average intraoperative blood loss was 1560 ml (range, 900 - 4800 ml). Complications were encountered in 4 patients. There were 2 cases with transient neurological deficits, 1 case with CSF leak, 1 case with epidural hematoma. The average time of follow-up was 31 months (range, 24 - 48 months). The correction rate was 61% on the coronal plane (from 108° to 42°), and the correction rate was 65% on the sagittal plane (from 82.0° to 28.7°). All patients had solid fusion at osteotomy site, and no instrumentational failure and loosening were found over the follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  single stage posterior VCD is an effective option to manage rigid scoliosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China. 301wangyan@sina.com
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guo-Quan
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Song-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Xue-Song
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult