title: Clinical evaluation of indirect decompression treatments for degenerative adult idiopathic scoliosis.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective case series.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Degenerative idiopathic scoliosis can be a cause of back pain. We sought to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of indirect decompression treatment in posterior correction and fusion for adult idiopathic scoliosis patients with radiculopathy and combined lateral olisthesis and/or foraminal stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty seven degenerative adult idiopathic scoliosis patients with radiculopathy were recruited. Prostration or body traction alleviated the neurological deficit in these patients. Their symptoms were aggravated, when patients stood up. Imaging was used to assess lateral olisthesis and/or foraminal stenosis. All patients underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation, deformity correction, dorsal lamina and posterolateral bone grafting with the indirect decompression treatment. Clinical examinations including visual analog scale (VAS), oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, and images were performed pre- and post-operation and during follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty seven patients were followed for the average of 30.8 months. No serious complication was observed. The cobb's angle, lateral olisthesis, thoracic kyphosis, thoracolumbar kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, VAS and ODI scores, coronal and sagittal balance were significantly improved among the patients who underwent the indirect decompression treatment. All patients had eliminated neurological deficit at their final follow-ups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The indirect decompression treatment in the posterior correction and fusion can be effective for adult idiopathic scoliosis patients with radiculopathy and combined lateral olisthesis and/or foraminal stenosis. This indicates the premise of strict operation indication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Spinal Surgery Center, Xiangya Hosptial, Central South University, 87 Xiang Ya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, People's Republic of China. zhq9996@163.com
authors.forename: Hongqi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qile
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shaohua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chaofeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Mingxing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Shijin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jingsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*