title: Vertebral body stapling as an alternative in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Unilateral vertebral body stapling as a fusionless alternative to control curvature progression in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Skeletally immature patients (Risser 0 or 1) with IS measuring 20-45° and correction of the curvature <20° on side-bending X-rays.
  
  
  METHODS
  Congenital scoliosis, curvature above T4 or below L4, thoracic kyphosis >40°.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unilateral disc-sparing staples are placed at the convex side. A thoracoscopic approach can be used for thoracic curves and a mini-open retroperitoneal approach for lumbar curves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Early ambulation on postoperative day 1 is encouraged. There are no absolute activity restrictions, and no bracing beyond 4 weeks is required.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 28 patients (4 males, 24 females; average age at operation 9.4 years) met all inclusion criteria and had a minimum 2-year follow-up (range 2-5.3 years). The success rate (improvement or stabilization of the curvature) was 86% for thoracic curves <35° and all lumbar curves meeting the indications.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Orthopedics, Shriners Hospital for Children, 3551 N Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. pertrobisch@gmail.com
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Trobisch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samdani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Betz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome