Can Vertebral Pedicular Tethering Preserve Lumbar Motion in theSurgical Treatment of a Lenke 6C Idiopathic Scoliosis? -TechnicalNote

Abstract

In the paediatric age group, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)
is the most common cause of spinal deformity. When the scoliosis
progresses beyond 45º of cobb angle, the optimal treatment is
surgery with an arthrodesis in order to correct the deformity, stop
curve progression and improve spinal balance. Although not ideal,
the gold standard surgical treatment of AIS is still fusion of the
structural curves but fusing long or short is a matter of the type
of scoliosis. According to the Lenke Classification for a type 6C
scoliosis, a deformity with a double curve where the major curve
is thoracolumbar/lumbar, meaning with a cobb angle larger than
in the thoracic curve, if it progresses and reaches an indication for
surgery, a long extensive fusion is often required. Occasionally,
a restricted number of these cases may be suitable for a shorter
selected fusion that means, leaving the thoracic curve out of the
arthrodesis but the main thoraco-lumbar or lumbar curve will
always require to be fused.