Status and progress of school screening for adolescent scoliosis / 中华骨科杂志

Scoliosis is one of the common diseases in adolescents. It can rapidly progress during the peak growth period. Scoliosis school screening (SSS) is the main way for early detection and treatment of this disease. The SSS project began in the 1960s and was gradually promoted from the United States to the world. However, some problems were gradually exposed during the implementation of the project, such as the high false positive rate of screening methods, potential radiation damage, the uncertainty of the potency ratio of screening and the lack of evidence-based medical evidence of the effectiveness of high-level conservative treatment, which led to many European and American countries stopping the implementation of SSS. However, with the progress of research related to diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis, based on the latest evidence-based medical evidence assessment, the United States Preventive Medicine Task Force again adjusted the recommendation level of SSS to "no recommendation, no objection" in 2018. In recent years, SSS has gradually received extensive attention from the Chinese government and society. Five national ministries and commissions also issued a document in 2021 to include scoliosis in the monitoring of common diseases among students. However, the implementation of the project should also refer to the effectiveness criteria of disease screening recommended by the World Health Organization. In the future, with the improvement of the accuracy of scoliosis screening methods, the development of multi-mode screening such as artificial intelligence, the emergence of non-radiation detection technology and the improvement of the effectiveness of conservative treatment of mild and moderate scoliosis, the long-term and large-scale implementation of SSS project and the early prevention and control of scoliosis will be possible to truly achieve.

Is Vertebral Column Resection Necessary in Correcting Severe and Rigid Thoracic Kyphoscoliosis? A Single-Institution Surgical Experience.

BACKGROUND: Three-column spinal osteotomies were developed to address severe and stiff kyphoscoliosis. However, the optimal choice of osteotomy in these patients is still unclear. This retrospective study aims to compare the outcomes and complications between grade 4 and grade 5 osteotomies in patients with severe and stiff thoracic kyphoscoliosis. METHODS: Forty-five patients with severe and stiff thoracic kyphoscoliosis who underwent 3-column osteotomy in the thoracic spine were classified into 2 groups according to the grade of osteotomy. The clinical data and radiologic parameters were collected and compared. RESULTS: Fourteen patients received grade 4 osteotomy, and 31 patients received grade 5 osteotomy. The spinal column shortening distances were similar between groups. The postoperative and latest follow-up radiologic parameters were not statistically significant between groups. Postoperative and follow-up results demonstrated greater correction of the regional kyphosis angle in the grade 4 osteotomy group, but did not reach significant level. The operative time and blood loss of grade 5 osteotomies were greater than those of grade 4, but showed no significant differences. Perioperative complication rates were also similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Similar clinical outcomes can be achieved with grade 4 and grade 5 spinal osteotomies. This may enrich the basis on moving down to a lower osteotomy grade when treating patients with severe and rigid thoracic kyphoscoliosis.

Convex-Rod Derotation Maneuver on Lenke Type I Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Convex-rod derotation may have potential advantages for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) correction; however, study of this technique has been limited. OBJECTIVE: To compare the radiographic outcomes of Lenke type I AIS patients treated by the convex- or concave-rod derotation maneuvers. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed to compare 2 cohorts, including 81 Lenke type I AIS patients treated with convex-rod derotation (n = 38) or concave-rod derotation (n = 43), between July 2008 and September 2012. All patients had complete clinical records and radiographic data, which were collected and compared between groups. RESULTS: In comparing 9 radiographic parameters, significant differences were found in the incidence of screw misplacement, the postoperative main-curve angle, and the corrective rate between groups. The major-curve angles in both the convex- and the concave-rod derotation groups were corrected from 54.0° ± 10.6° and 53.0° ± 11.1° preoperatively, to 8.5° ± 6.9° and 12.9° ± 6.8° postoperatively, with corrective rates of 85.3% and 76.0%, respectively (P = .001). Final T5-T12 kyphosis and appropriate coronal-to-sagittal balance were achieved in both groups. The incidence of screw misplacement in the convex and concave sides of all patients was 1.8% and 3.7%, respectively (P = .047), and 1.8% and 3.6%, respectively, in the convex- and the concave-rod derotation groups (P = .044). CONCLUSION: Compared with concave-rod derotation, convex-rod derotation can potentially improve the major-curve corrective rate and tends to reduce the risk of pedicle breach in Lenke type I AIS patients.

Prevalence of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Chinese Schoolchildren: A Large, Population-Based Study.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a population-based, cross-sectional study of school scoliosis screening program in mainland China. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess current prevalence and distribution of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) in schoolchildren and to compare with the results of previous studies. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The feasibility and predictive values of scoliosis screening programs for school-age children remains controversial and many of these programs have recently been discontinued in different countries. Due to different race and medical model in China, it is not feasible to introduce these data without further study. Therefore, a reliable retrospective cohort study with a large sample size to ensure proper evaluation of school scoliosis screening is needed. METHODS: Schoolchildren were initially screened by visual inspection of clinical signs, the forward-bending test, and the measurement of the angle of trunk rotation (ATR). Students suspected were rescreened, and then were referred for radiography or dismissed. The diagnosis and treatment were based on the Cobb angle. The personal information, demographic information, and results of tests performed were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 99,695 children were screened, with a female-to-male ratio of 1:1.03. Around 6.56% of children screened were referred for radiography, and 5125 of them had confirmed diagnosis. The overall scoliosis prevalence rate was 5.14%. According to age and gender, 14- to 15-year-old girls had the highest prevalence rates (13.81%). And, the prevalence of IS in need of treatment was 0.64%. A prevalence rate of 13.1% was observed in girls with BMI less than 18 kg/m². CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of IS was 5.14% in our study. Screening of 13- to 14- and 14- to 15-year-old girls identified a significant number who could benefit from preventive treatment. Low BMI may be a risk factor for IS. We present this study as a guide for studying the prevalence of IS and modifying our further research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Application of descending neurogenic evoked potentials monitoring during spinal deformity surgery / 中华骨科杂志

Objective To elevate the efficacy and safety of descending neurogenic evoked potentials (DNEP) monitoring during severe rigid spinal deformity surgery.Methods All of 108 patients (43 males,65 females) who underwent surgical treatment for spinal deformity in our spinal center from July 2010 to August 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.The average age (17.5±5.8) ys(range 12-50 ys),the average following period is 38.6 months(range 24-52 months).Combined monitoring of SEP,MEP and DNEP model were used during surgery.All subjects with no neurological deficits preoperatively and got satisfied outcomes.Respectively evaluate the results of neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring (IOM).Data were collected to elevate the efficacy and safety of DNEP monitoring.Results All of 108 patients,15 patients (13.9％,15/108) showed significant changes of neurophysiological parameters,of which 9 cases (60％,9/15) were identified as true positive and 6 cases (40％,6/15) were identified as false positive.During the following-up period,2 patients developed permanent neurological deficit,and 3 patients showed transient neurological deficit who got fully recovered within 6 months after operation.DNEP showed alert in all 5 patients with truepositive alarm,of which 2 patients developed permanent neurological dysfunction and 3 cases showed postoperative short nerve dysfunction that got fully recovery within 6 months after operation.The sensitivity and specificity of SEP+MEP and DNEP were 100％ and 97.98％,100％ and 98.99％,respectively.Conclusion Combining use of MEP+SEP+DNEP monitoring during surgical treatment of spinal deformities presented to be a highly reliable method for the detection and prevention of iatrogenic injury.The results confirmed a high efficacy and safety of DNEP monitoring during spinal surgery.