Augmentation of single rod with sublaminar wiring in treating adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effects of single rod augmented with sublaminar wiring in correcting scoliosis. Special attention was. 25 adolescent patients with mean age of 12.9 years. These included 9 boys and 16 girls. All cases were examined clinically and radiologically before and after surgery. Surgery in all cases included the use of single rod fixed with transpedicular screws [except one case where kooks were used in the upper part of the curve]. Sublaminar wires were used to supplement the fixation. Moreover at the sites intended for screw fixation these openings were extended a bit laterally to facilitate screw fixation. The mean thoracic curve preoperatively was 54.7 degrees, while that of the lumber was 37.3 degrees. Flexibility of the thoracic curve had a mean of 48.1% while that of the lumbar was 46.7%. The mean number of vertebrae included was 10.7 vertebrae. The mean number of screws was 5.1 screws and a mean of 4.4 sublaminar wires was used. The mean correction of thoracic curve was 59.9% that of lumbar was 55.5%. The factors that was significantly affecting the correction were the flexibility of the thoracic curves, the number of vertebrae included in instrumentation, number of screws used. The number of sublaminar wires used were positively but insignificantly correlated to the degree of correction