title: Pedicle-sparing transforaminal thoracic spine wedge osteotomy for kyphosis correction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Correction of a focal kyphotic deformity at times requires performing a pedicle subtraction osteotomy, which is accompanied by loss of pedicles as anchor points at the affected level in addition to significant blood loss. To help alleviate these two issues, a novel osteotomy technique for correction of kyphosis using a transforaminal approach to the thoracic vertebral body is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a bilateral pedicle-sparing approach and demonstrate it in a patient with proximal junctional kyphosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proposed osteotomy resulted in a 28-degree Cobb angle improvement in the sagittal plane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The operation resulted in a similar degree of correction as a pedicle subtraction osteotomy, with the added benefit of maintaining the pedicles closest to the kyphotic deformity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Osama N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Kashlan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Valdivia
keywords: Proximal junctional kyphosis; sagittal balance; scoliosis; spine osteotomy; spine surgery; thoracic spine deformity