Abstract
Twenty-eight patients undergoing correction of thoraco-lumbar deformity were randomised to either the USS or Colorado 2 spinal instrumentation. Scoliosis was the deformity in 24 cases. Only once the surgical plan was decided upon was the instrumentation randomised, thus not influencing the use of anterior release or not.
Of the scoliotics, seven underwent anterior releases. The average duration was 107 minutes, blood loss 325 ml and number of levels 4.6 discs.
The USS group had 11 scoliosis cases. Nine were idiopathic, one neurofibromatosis and one neuromuscular. The average age at surgery was 18.7 years. The average number of levels fused was 11.4±1.6 (9–14). The average duration of surgery was 237±43.9 (180–330) minutes. The average blood loss was 2460±2204 (500–7500) ml. If the extreme blood loss of 7500 ml was excluded, then the average was 1900±1392 (500–4500). Costoplasties were performed in five cases. Only one case braced.
The Colorado 2 group had 13 scoliosis cases. Ten were idiopathic and three neuormuscular. The average age at surgery was 21.9 years. The average number of levels fused was 11±1.52 (9–14). The average duration of surgery was 198.3±34.9 (150–255) minutes. The average blood loss was 1766.7±863 (850–3800). Costoplasties were performed in five cases. Only one case braced.
Results: There was similar correction between the groups with Colorado 2 having an average of 52±16 (17–67)% and USS 62±17 (38–93)%. As regards instrumentation related failure, one USS hook cut out intra-operatively and needed to be replaced a level lower. In the Colorado group, there was also a laminar fracture. There were two screw cut outs, a hook pull out and two misplaced hooks in the Colorado group.
Conclusions: Both systems provided a similar amount of correction. There were more fixation point problems with the Colorado 2 group than the USS group. Some of these problems were related to insertion errors, but may have been due to migration during the correction process. This may indicate a benefit of the USS hook-screw fixation system.
Abstracts prepared by Mr J. Dorgan. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital, Alder Hey, Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK
President’s Lecture: Natural history and management of Congenital Kyphosis and Kyphoscoliosis M.J. McMaster, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Greg Houghton Lecture: Idiopathic Scoliosis – Alternatives to traditional surgery R.R. Betz, Philadelphia, USA
Instructional Lecture:New thoughts on the treatment of paralytic scoliosis R.R. Betz, Philadelphia, USA
Keynote Lectures: Idiopathic Scoliosis – How to manage the patient R.A. Dickson, Leeds, UK
Concave or convex approach for Kyphoscoliosis J. Dubousset, Paris, France Surgery or bracing for moderate AIS. How long term follow-up studies change your perspective A. Nachemson, Göteborg, Sweden
