Time to surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: How long does it take? A multicenter study.

Study design: Retrospective review of multicentric data. Objectives: To estimate the time from initial visit to surgery in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients and the main reasons for the time to surgery in a multicenter study. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 509 patients with AIS from 16 hospitals across six Latin American countries. From each hospital's deformity registry, the following patient data were extracted: demographics, main curve Cobb angle, Lenke Classification at the initial visit and time of surgery, time from indication-for-surgery to surgery, curve progression, Risser skeletal-maturity score and causes for surgical cancelation or delay. Surgeons were asked if they needed to change the original surgical plan due to curve progression. Data also were collected on each hospital's waiting list numbers and mean delay to AIS surgery. Results: 66.8% of the patients waited over six months and 33.9% over a year. Waiting time was not impacted by the patient's age when surgery first became indicated (p = 0.22) but waiting time did differ between countries (p < 0.001) and hospitals (p < 0.001). Longer time to surgery was significantly associated with increasing magnitude of the Cobb angle through the second year of waiting (p < 0.001). Reported causes for delay were hospital-related (48.4%), economic (47.3%), and logistic (4.2%). Oddly, waiting time for surgery did not correlate with the hospital's reported waiting-list lengths (p = 0.57). Conclusion: Prolonged waits for AIS surgery are common in Latin America, with rare exceptions. At most centers, patients wait over six months, most commonly for economic and hospital-related reasons. Whether this directly impacts surgical outcomes in Latin America still must be studied.

Espondilolistesis traumática L5-S1: presentación de 3 casos / Traumatic spondylolisthesis L5-S1: presentation of 3 cases

Objetivo: Reportar 3 casos de espondilolistesis traumáticas de L5-S1, una entidad infrecuente, con pocos casos publicados en la literatura. Material y métodos: Se revisaron las historias clínicas de 3 pacientes operados por espondilolistesis traumáticas L5-S1 en el período 2010-2015. Caso 1, varón de 30 años que sufrió una caída del caballo, anterolistesis grado II. Se realizó una artrodesis L4-S2 con realineación y soporte anterior con TLIF L5-S1. Caso 2, varón de 38 años que consultó por lumbalgia intensa luego de accidente automovilístico. Se diagnosticó una anterolistesis grado II con fractura de la base de ambas facetas ascendentes de S1. Se realizó artrodesis L5-S1 con liberación radicular y realineación. Caso 3, varón de 12 años derivado 20 días luego de un politraumatismo por el derrumbe de una pared. Se diagnosticó una espondilolistesis con dislocación facetaria bilateral. Se realizó una artrodesis L5-S1 con descompresión radicular bilateral. Todos los casos fueron estudiados en el preoperatorio con Rx, TC e IRM. El seguimiento promedio fue de 2.7 años. En los 3 casos se logró un buen control del dolor y de los síntomas neurológicos. La fusión se constató con radiografías simples en el control alejado. Conclusión: En todos los casos se logró un buen resultado clínico e imagenológico con una artrodesis sólida, realizada en un solo tiempo quirúrgico por abordaje posterior.

Objective: To report our surgical results treating three patients with traumatic L5-S1 spondylolisthesis, an infrequent lesion of which only a few isolated cases have been published. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the charts of three patients who underwent surgery from 2010-2015. Case 1 was a 30-year-old man who had fallen off a horse and in whom grade II lytic anterolisthesis was diagnosed, for which L4-S2 fusion with a L5-S1 TLIF was successfully performed. Case 2 was a 38-year-old man with severe low back pain after a car accident. Grade II anterolisthesis was diagnosed secondary to bilateral fractures of S1 facets, for which L5-S1 fusion was done. Case 3 was a 12-year-old child with low back and leg pain after a wall collapsed on top of him, who was diagnosed with anterolisthesis and bilateral facet dislocation. In this patient, L5-S1 fusion and realignment was performed. All patients were studied with full spine x-rays, CT scans and MRI. Average follow-up was 2.7 years. Pain was controlled and neurological deficits improved over the duration of long-term follow-up. X-rays revealed successful fusion in all cases.Conclusions: In our three cases, we achieved excellent clinical and radiological results with solid fusion, performed during a single surgical procedure.

Cervical and thoracic sagittal misalignment after surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a comparative study of all pedicle screws versus hybrid instrumentation.

STUDY DESIGN: A comparative study of 2 cohort series of surgically treated patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who were retrospectively analyzed, with level III evidence. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect on the cervical sagittal balance of 2 AIS correction constructs, namely, all pedicle screws and hybrid instrumentation using hooks and pedicle screws. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: An inverse relationship between cervical and thoracic kyphosis in AIS has been found in pediatric patients after concave derotation using hybrid constructs with pedicle screws and hooks. METHODS: Two series of 25 nonconsecutive patients with Lenke type-I AIS who underwent spinal fusion were retrospectively reviewed. In 1 series, the patients were treated with all thoracic pedicle screw constructs. In the other series, the correction was achieved by using hybrid constructs. Preoperative and 2-year follow-up radiographical examinations were evaluated, measuring the following parameters: C2-C7 sagittal angle, displacement of C2-C7 plumb line, T1 sagittal tilt, T1-T5 and T5-T12 sagittal profile, and C7-S1 global sagittal balance. RESULTS: In both groups, there was a lordotic effect on the T5-T12 kyphosis after surgery, with an average loss of 6.1° for hybrid and 7.7° for pedicle screws. When the postoperative data were compared, the intergroup differences were found only in the sagittal C2-C7 Cobb angle, showing a mean kyphotic trend (-5.2°) in the pedicle screws group compared with a mean lordotic trend (1.8°) in the hybrid group (P < 0.05). In both techniques, the patients with upper-instrumented vertebra at T4 or below showed a lordotic effect that was more evident in the hybrid constructs (+9.4° ± 11.3 vs. +0.3° ± 11.4). In those with the upper-instrumented vertebra at T3 or higher levels, both techniques had a kyphotic effect that was more severe in the patients of the pedicle screws group (-7.0° ± 12.6 vs. -2.8° ± 10.5). CONCLUSION: Independent of the surgical technique used, the cervical spine had a tendency to decompensate and acquire a kyphotic sagittal profile. Constructs based on all pedicle screws have a stronger hypokyphotic effect on the thoracic spine, with a predisposition to greater decompensation of the cervical spine. Kyphotic changes in the C2-C7 sagittal alignment induced by scoliosis correction are correlated with the level of the upper-instrumented vertebra.

Analisis del balance coronal y último nivel artrodesado en escoliosis idiopática lenke 5: parámetros radiográficos específicos / Análise do equilíbrio coronal e do último nível artrodesado em escoliose idiopática lenke 5: parâmetros radiográficos específicos / Analysis of coronal balance and last level of arthrodesis in lenke type 5 idiopathic scoliosis: specific radiographic parameters

OBJETIVO: Determinar las modificaciones postoperatorias que se producen en el balance coronal de los pacientes con escoliosis idiopática del adolescente (EIA) con curvas de Lenke tipo 5, realizando un análisis pre y postoperatorio de los siguientes parámetros radiológicos: último nivel vertebral artrodesado, inclinación de L4, traslación de vértebra apical, obliquidade lumbosacra, ángulo de Cobb y balance coronal previo. MÉTODOS: Se evaluaron 20 pacientes con diagnóstico de EIA con curvas de Lenke tipo 5, con un seguimiento promedio de 36 meses (R: 24 a 48). La edad promedio al momento de la cirugía fue de 15,3 años (R: 13 a 20 años), siendo la distribución por sexo de 16 mujeres y 4 hombres. RESULTADOS: En nuestra serie hemos detectado una correlación directa entre el AVTL y el LSTOA con el balance coronal postoperatorio, tanto en el grupo de los pacientes que mejoraron (14 pacientes), como en aquellos en los que el balance coronal empeoró (6 pacientes). CONCLUSIÓN: De la serie evaluada, fueron el AVTL y el LSTOA, los parámetros radiográficos específicos.

OBJETIVO: Determinar as modificações pós-operatórias produzidas no equilíbrio coronal dos pacientes com escoliose idiopática do adolescente (EIA) e curvas de Lenke tipo 5, realizando uma análise pre e pós-operatória dos seguintes parâmetros radiológicos: último nível vertebral artrodesado, inclinação de L4, translação de vértebra apical, obliquidade lombossacral, ângulo de Cobb e equilíbrio coronal prévio. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 20 pacientes com diagnóstico de EIA com curvas de Lenke tipo 5, acompanhados em média por 36 meses (R: 24 a 48). A média de idade no momento da cirurgia foi de 15,3 anos (R: 13 a 20 anos), sendo a distribuição por sexo de 16 mulheres e 4 homens. RESULTADOS: Em nossa série detectamos correlação direta entre AVTL e LSTOA com o equilíbrio coronal pós-operatório, tanto no grupo dos pacientes que melhoraram (14 pacientes), quanto nos que tiveram piora do equilíbrio coronal (6 pacientes). CONCLUSÃO: Na série avaliada, AVTL e LSTOA foram os parâmetros radiográficos específicos.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the postoperative changes produced in coronal balance of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and Lenke type 5 curves, carrying out a pre- and postoperative analysis of the following radiological parameters: last arthrodesed vertebral level, L4 tilt, translation of the apical vertebra, lumbosacral obliquity, Cobb angle, and previous coronal balance. METHODS: 20 patients with a diagnosis of AIS with Lenke type 5 curves, in mean follow-up of 36 months (Range: 24 to 48), were evaluated. The mean age at surgery was 15.3 years (Range: 13 to 20 years), and the distribution by sex was 16 women and 4 men. RESULTS: In our series, we found a direct correlation between AVTL and LSTOA, and postoperative coronal balance, both in the group of patients that improved (14 patients) and in those with worsening of coronal balance (6 patients). CONCLUSION: in the case series evaluated, AVTL and LSTOA were the specific radiographic parameters.

Análisis del comportamiento del segmento lumbar, no artrodesado, en escoliosis idiopática del adolescente de curva Lenke tipo 1 / Análise do comportamento do segmento lombar sem artrodese em escoliose idiopática do adolescente com curvatura de Lenke tipo 1 / Analysis of the behavior of the lumbar segment without spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with curvature of lenke type 1

OBJETIVO: Determinar el comportamiento del segmento lumbar, no artrodesado, en el plano coronal luego de fusiones torácicas selectivas en pacientes con escoliosis idiopática del adolescente con curvas Lenke 1. MÉTODOS: Se evaluaron 21 pacientes con un seguimiento promedio de 29,71 meses (rango: 24-60 meses) mediante análisis clínico y radiográfico retrospectivos de pacientes que presentaron escoliosis idiopáticas del adolescente, con curvas Lenke tipo 1 (ABC). RESULTADOS: En todos los pacientes, en los que se produjo un desequilibrio en el plano coronal, se constató la progresión del valor angular de la curva lumbar no artrodesada al final del seguimiento. CONCLUSIÓN: La curva lumbar no artrodesada progresó al final del seguimiento, en todos los pacientes con desequilibrio confirmado en el plano coronal (3/21).

OBJETIVO: Determinar o comportamento do segmento lombar sem artrodese no plano coronal, após fusões torácicas seletivas na escoliose idiopática do adolescente com curvaturas de Lenke 1. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 21 pacientes com acompanhamento médio de 29,71 meses (faixa: 24 a 60 meses), por meio de análise clínica e radiográfica retrospectiva de pacientes que apresentaram escoliose idiopática do adolescente com curvaturas de Lenke tipo 1 (ABC). RESULTADOS: Constatou-se aumento do ângulo da curva lombar sem artrodese no final do acompanhamento em todos os pacientes que apresentaram desequilíbrio no plano coronal. CONCLUSÃO: O total dos pacientes nos quais se confirmou desequilíbrio no plano coronal (3/21) apresentaram progressão da curva lombar sem artrodese no final do acompanhamento.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of lumbar segment without arthrodesis in the coronal plane, after selective thoracic fusions for with curvature of Lenke type 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with curvature of Lenke type 1. METHODS: Twenty one patients were evaluated, with a mean follow-up of 29.71 months (range: 24-60 months) with retrospective clinical and radiographic analysis of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with curvature of Lenke type 1 (ABC). RESULTS: The increase of the angle of the lumbar curve without fusion was documented at the end of the follow-up in patients with coronal plane imbalance. CONCLUSION: Lumbar curve without fusion progressed at the end of the follow-up in patients with documented coronal plane imbalance (3/21).