MULTI-SEGMENTAL POSTERIOR OSTEOTOMY OF SPINE AND LUQUE INSTRUMENTATION FOR CORRECTION OF KYPHOSIS IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS:A PRELIMINARY REPORT / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Multi-segmental posterior osteotomy of the spine was performed upon 12 patients with ankylosing spondylitis for the correction of kyphosis. The deformity was situated in thoraco-lumbar spine in 11 cases and lumbar spine 1 case. The magnitude of the curves ranged from 55 to 110 Cobb's degrees with a mean of 81 degrees. The number of osteotomy was 5.4 in average (3-7 segments). The highest level of osteotomy was T7 and the lowest L5. The average correction was 49.5 degrees (61%) with a range of 30-80 degrees. No severe complication was found in our series. This procedure may disperse the effects of osteotomies over the whole curve with its center at the apex of the curve, and it carries the following advantages (1) direct correction is mechanically efficient and causes a better external appearence with less correction; (2) it may restore the physiological curves and normal weight-bearing line of the spine; (3) it entails solittle influence on the stability of the spine that it is unnecessary to give extra support; (4) it may reduce the opening up of each intervertebral space, avoiding the overstretching injury of the viscrae and blood vessels.