Logo image
Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering for Idiopathic Scoliosis Two-Year Results
Journal article

Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering for Idiopathic Scoliosis Two-Year Results

Amer F. Samdani, Robert J. Ames, Jeff S. Kimball, Joshua M. Pahys, Harsh Grewal, Glenn J. Pelletier and Randal R. Betz
Spine (Philadelphia, Pa. 1976), v 39(20), pp 1688-1693
15 Sep 2014
PMID: 24921854

Abstract

Clinical Neurology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Neurosciences & Neurology Orthopedics Science & Technology
Study Design. Retrospective review. Objective. To report the 2-year results of the initial cohort undergoing anterior vertebral body tethering (VBT). Summary of Background Data. Anterior VBT is a promising new technique with abundant preclinical studies but very few clinical results. It is a growth modulation technique, which utilizes patients' growth to attain progressive correction of their scoliosis. We report 2-year results of the initial cohort undergoing this procedure. Methods. After obtaining institutional review board approval, we retrospectively reviewed our first 11 consecutive patients who underwent anterior VBT with 2-year follow-up. We collected pertinent preoperative, intraoperative, and most recent clinical and radiographical data. Student t test and Fisher exact test were utilized to compare different time points. Results. Eleven patients with thoracic idiopathic scoliosis (8 females) were identified, with a mean age of 12.3 +/- 1.6 years. Preoperatively, all were skeletally immature (Sanders mean = 3.4 +/- 1.1; Risser mean = 0.6 +/- 1.1). All underwent tethering of an average of 7.8 +/- 0.9 (range: 7-9) levels, with the most proximal being T5 and the most distal L2. Preoperative thoracic Cobb angle averaged 44.2 +/- 9.0 degrees and corrected to 20.3 +/- 11.0 degrees on first erect, with progressive improvement at 2 years (Cobb angle = 13.5 +/- 11.6 degrees, % correction = 70%; P < 0.00002). Similarly, the preoperative lumbar curve of 25.1 +/- 8.7 degrees demonstrated progressive correction (first erect = 14.9 +/- 4.9 degrees, 2 yr = 7.2 +/- 5.1 degrees, % correction = 71%; P < 0.0002). Thoracic axial rotation as measured by a scoliometer went from 12.4 +/- 3.3 degrees preoperatively to 6.9 +/- 3.4 degrees at the most recent measurement (P < 0.01). No major complications were observed. As anticipated, 2 patients returned to the operating room at 2 years postoperatively for loosening of the tether to prevent overcorrection. Conclusion. Anterior VBT is a promising technique for skeletally immature patients with idiopathic scoliosis. This technique can be performed safely and can result in progressive correction.

Metrics

17 Record Views
200 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Clinical Neurology
Orthopedics
Logo image