STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study to determine the efficacy of posterior-only unit rod instrumentation and fusion in a skeletally immature @entity4094 population. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the posterior-only approach to this population adequately addresses the concerns of correction of @entity1635 and @entity530 , maintenance of that correction over time, and the incidence of crankshaft phenomenon. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Controversy exists regarding the need for anterior release to improve curve flexibility and the need to obtain an anterior arthrodesis in those skeletally immature @entity1 at risk for crankshafting with continued anterior growth. METHODS: From 1992 through 1997, 28 consecutive skeletally immature @entity1 with @entity4094 underwent posterior-only unit rod instrumentation and fusion for the treatment of progressive, symptomatic @entity85 . Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and final follow-up radiographs were analyzed with respect to @entity1635 and @entity530 correction, maintenance of that correction over time, and the development of the crankshaft phenomenon as evidenced by loss of correction and/or increased rib-vertebral angle difference. The average age of the @entity1 was 12.8 years and the average follow-up was 58 months with a minimum of 2 years. RESULTS: Twenty-six @entity1 were available for final follow-up. The initial Cobb angle correction averaged 66%, with 75% of the @entity530 corrected. These corrections were maintained over time. Before surgery 27 of 28 @entity1 were Risser 0, 1, or 2. The triradiate cartilage was open in nine @entity1 , and five @entity1 were < or =10 years of age. At the final follow-up 22 of the 26 @entity1 were Risser 5 and 4 were Risser 4. There was one @entity1 with increased rib-vertebral angle difference over the length of follow-up, with no loss of frontal or sagittal plane alignment. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that even in the very young neuromuscular @entity1 , acceptable amounts of curve correction can be achieved and maintained with posterior-only unit rod instrumentation and fusion. The biomechanical stiffness of this construct seemed to be able to prevent the crankshaft phenomenon in the majority of those @entity1 at risk.

Posterior-only unit rod instrumentation and fusion for XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity4094 :: ('MESH:D009468', 'Disease') :: ['neuromuscular scoliosis'] @entity1635 :: ('MESH:D012600', 'Disease') :: ['scoliosis'] @entity530 :: ('MESH:D010386', 'Disease') :: ['pelvic obliquity'] @entity85 :: ('MESH:D009140', 'Disease') :: ['spinal deformities']
@entity4094 :: (MESH:D009468,Disease) :: ['neuromuscular scoliosis']
