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Morphometric analysis of the proximal thoracic pedicles in Lenke II and IV adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: an evaluation of the feasibility for pedicle screw insertion

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Abstract

Purpose

Pedicles on the concave side of the proximal thoracic (PT) curve in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with Lenke II and IV deformities tend to be narrow and dysplastic, making pedicle screw (PS) insertion challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility for PS placement in these patients using pedicle chord length, diameter, and channel morphology.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 56 consecutive AIS patients with Lenke II or IV curves who underwent instrumented posterior spinal fusion (PSF) were studied. The mean age at surgery was 14.8 years and the mean PT curve measured 45°. Two independent investigators evaluated all visible pedicles from T1 to T6 vertebral levels using axial images from intraoperative computed tomography-guided navigation recording the pedicle: (1) maximum transverse diameter ‘d’ at the isthmus, (2) maximum chord length ‘l’, and (3) qualitative assessment of the channel morphology (types A–D).

Results

Two hundred and sixty-eight concave and 264 convex pedicles were measured. The mean ‘d’ of the concave pedicles at T3 and T4 was < 3.0 mm, compared to > 5.0 mm for the convex counterparts (p < 0.001). Of all concave pedicle channels, 48% had morphology characteristics that were riskier for PS cannulation (type C or D) compared to 2% of all convex pedicle channels (type A or B) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Almost half of all concave pedicles have morphologic characteristics that make them too small to accommodate a PS. Though PSs could be inserted using an in–out–in technique in these patients, alternative fixation anchors may improve strength and safety.

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Funding

No funding was received for conducting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Orthopaedics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Ryan H. Guzek, Stuart L. Mitchell, Arielle R. Krakow & John M. Flynn

  2. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    John M. Flynn

  3. Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Glasgow, UK

    Nanjundappa S. Harshavardhana

  4. Orthopedic Surgery, Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Eric J. Sarkissian

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  1. Ryan H. Guzek
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Contributions

RHG, SLM, ARK, NSH, EJS, JMF: conception or design of work. RHG, SLM, ARK, NSH, EJS, JMF: acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work. RHG, SLM, ARK, NSH, EJS, JMF: drafting of work or revising it critically for important intellectual content. RHG, SLM, ARK, NSH, EJS, JMF: final approval of version to be published.

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Correspondence to John M. Flynn.

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This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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Guzek, R.H., Mitchell, S.L., Krakow, A.R. et al. Morphometric analysis of the proximal thoracic pedicles in Lenke II and IV adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: an evaluation of the feasibility for pedicle screw insertion. Spine Deform 9, 1541–1548 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-021-00377-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-021-00377-5

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