Surgical treatment of degenerative scoliosis / 中华外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the techniques of posterior lumbar interbody fusion and pedicle screws in the treatment of degenerative scoliosis and evaluate their clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty five patients with degenerative scoliosis were treated operatively during 1997 - 2002. Among the 25 patients, 13 patients were treated with Brantigan I/F carbon cages in 28 intervertebral spaces, 7 patients were treated with Prospace cages in 15 spaces, 1 patient was treated with CONTACT cages in 2 spaces. The correcting effects, complications and follow-up results were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average correction rate of scoliosis was 59% and the rate of pain relief was 88%. There was a case of pseudoarthritis and a case of embolism. During follow-up, correction rate and height of disc spaces were not lost nor shift of interbody cages.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Posterior pedicle screws combined with interbody fusion is a safe and effective treatment for degenerative scoliosis.</p>