Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the effect of a vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) on shoulder balance in patients with congenital scoliosis.
Methods
Fifteen patients had a thoracic congenital scoliosis. The Cobb angles of the thoracic primary curves were measured. Preoperative measurements of the coracoid height difference (CHD; expressed in millimeters) and the clavicular tilt angle difference (CTAD; expressed in degrees) were performed for all patients. All of the patients were treated with VEPTR open wedge thoracostomy.
Result
There was a statistically significant improvement in thoracic Cobb angle. At the end of follow-up there was a significant improvement in CHD; all but three of the patients had CHD < 9 mm. Preoperatively, CTAD was 8.9°. It improved to 4.4° postoperatively and significantly decreased to 3.9° by the end of follow-up. Complications included device migration (one patient), infection (one patient), and pedicle screw loosening or displacement (two patients).
Conclusion
VEPTR is able to produce a modest intraoperative correction of shoulder imbalance.
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No funds were received in support of this work. No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript.
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Samy, M.A., Al Zayed, Z.S. & Shaheen, M.F. The effect of a vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib on shoulder balance in patients with congenital scoliosis. J Child Orthop 3, 391–396 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11832-009-0201-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11832-009-0201-x