ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To report the results and techniques of posterior vertebral column resections for fixed lumbosacral deformity. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Fixed lumbosacral deformity results in gross imbalance and progressive compensatory thora-columbar deformity due to the absence of a mobile spine caudally. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive fixed lumbosacral deformity patients subjected to PVCR were reviewed after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The offending vertebra was below the L4 in all cases. The etiological diagnoses were congenital scoliosis, congenital kyphoscoliosis, post-traumatic kyphosis and post-infectious kyphosis in 6, 3, 2 and 14 patients, respectively. The average age at the time of operation was 38 years, with a male:female ratio of 7:18. The indication for PVCR was fixed lumbosacral deformities that could not be brought to a reasonable balance on traction or forced side bending. RESULTS: On average 2.1, ranging from 1 to 5, vertebrae were removed, with 52 removed in all. The average fusion extent was 4.5 vertebrae, ranging from 2 to 8. An anterior column reconstruction was carried out with an autogenous bone graft in all patients, with the additional insertion of titanium mesh in 12. The distal anchor went down to the L5, S1 and S2 in 4, 12 and 9 patients, respectively. A preoperative scoliosis of 3812 was corrected to 158 (60% correction), and a preoperative kyphosis of 3525 was corrected to -511 (40% correction). A preoperative coronal imbalance of 2.0cm was improved to 0.9cm, and a preoperative sagittal imbalance of 9.3 cm was improved to 4.6 cm. The mean operation time and blood loss were 280 minutes and 2810ml, respectively. Following complications were encountered in 5 patients: 2 transient neurologies, 2 compression fractures at proximal adjacent vertebra and 1 pseudoarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: A posterior vertebral column resection is an effective procedure for the management of a fixed lumbosacral deformity. It provides satisfactory correction and improved functional outcomes. However, it is a technically demanding and exhausting procedure, with possible risks for complications