Posterior Screws - No direct vertebral body derotation

The aims of surgery are to:

• improve the spinal curve
• improve the three dimensional alignment of the spine
• prevent progression of the curve in the future
• improve cosmesis
• reduce pain
• optimize pulmonary function
• maintain neurological integrity

This is achieved by correction of the deformity and creation of a solid arthrodesis of the deformed part of the spine.

For this procedure we will assume a right thoracic and a left lumbar curve.

Details on selection of fusion levels can be found here.

The procedure is performed through a posterior approach with the patient in the prone position. The lengths of the incision will depend on the levels being fused.

Pedicle screw density would depend on surgeon's preference and preoperative planning. Typically less screws are utilized on smaller and more flexible curves, while more screws are utilized on larger and stiffer curves up to a maximum of segmental screws bilaterally.

Details on pedicle screw insertion.

Depending on flexibility findings, the release can be carried out only at the apex of the curve, which is usually the stiffest, or the whole length of the instrumented spine.

A release is generally performed if the spine cannot easily align to the rod during surgery. This can be predicted preoperatively based on the bending X-ray. For stiff curves, fulcrum bending X-ray and the traction X-ray under general anaesthesia is the method of choice for determining flexibility.

A soft tissue release can be performed by removal of the interspinous ligaments along with the midline ligamentum flavum of the apical regions of the deformity. If additional release is desired, then formal Posterior Column Osteotomy (PCO) can be performed at the same levels. PCO is also called SPO (Smith-Petersen osteotomy) or Ponte osteotomy. The shaded area to the left outlines the bony resection performed during a PCO.

All posterior releases begin by resecting the inferior aspect of the spinous process, followed by removal of the interspinous ligament utilizing a standard rongeur.

Removal of the 3-5 mm of the inferior aspect of the inferior facet joint is performed at each level of the planned fusion using an osteotome.

The ligamentum flavum is removed with a Kerrison rongeur beginning in the midline and exiting lateral until abutting against the medial aspect of the superior facet. It is important not to penetrate deeply against the dura.

Care should be taken not to tear the dura particularly on the concavity of the curve where the neuro tissues preferentially lie.

A Kerrison rongeur is utilized to remove the most cephalad portion of the superior articular facet exiting out lateral into the neuroforamen. This completes the PCO and is usually repeated at other levels.

Epidural bleeding within the neuroforamen is controlled with hemostatic agents and cottonoid packing.

In cases where a PCO has been performed, the facet joint is already removed and this step ("Facet joint fusion") should be omitted.

The inferior articular facet is removed with an osteotome exposing the articular cartilage of the superior articular facet.

Remove the articular cartilage from the superior articular facet using a gouge or a curette.

Insert pieces of bone graft (autograft, allograft, or bone substitute) into the decorticated facet joint for arthrodesis.

These steps are repeated for all the levels on both sides.

The concave rod is bent to the appropriate thoracic kyphosis as preoperatively planned with the appropriate transition into lordosis of the thoracolumbar junction as necessary.

The amount of thoracic kyphosis bent into the left rod will be based on:
Curve size, curve flexibility, number and purchase of bone anchors, size and material of the rod utilized.

Starting with the most cranial screw the rod is inserted sequentially into all the screws on the left side of the thoracic and the lumbar curve conforming to the two deformities without being locked.

Rod holders are then applied onto the rod and the rod is rotated 90° counter clockwise around its axis correcting the scoliosis, and restoring the kyphosis in the thoracic spine and the lordosis in the lumbar spine.

This rod-rotation maneuver should be performed slowly and cautiously with careful attention to both the implant-bone interface to avoid pullout, and to the neuromonitoring signals.

The rod is locked to the most caudal screw to prevent it from rotating back. The other screw heads are kept unlocked.

The right rod is bent to slightly less kyphosis in the thoracic section and less lordosis in the lumbar section compared to the left side.

The right rod is attached to the most cranial thoracic screw in its normal sagittal-plane rotation and locked.

The distal end of the rod is then levered down using a rod holder and sequentially attached to the remaining screws of the thoracic and lumbar curve, starting cranially.

This maneuver will push the thoracic apical rib hump anteriorly, thereby achieving derotation of the apical segments.

On attaching the right rod to the concavity, the lumbar segment will be lifted dorsally and partially derotated.

After locking the apical screw to the rod, the convex screws are compressed towards the apical anchor to horizontalize each vertebra and locked in position.

The correction of the thoracic curve stops at the neutral vertebra (usually T12).

After locking the apical screw to the rod, the convex screws are compressed towards the apical anchor to horizontalize each vertebra and locked in position.

Gentle distraction is applied away from the apex towards cranial and caudal aspect of the thoracic curve to the neutral (T12) level, locking the screw heads along the way.

Attention is now returned to the right lumbar side. After locking the apical screw to the rod, gentle distraction is applied away from the apex towards the cranial and caudal ends up to the neutral (T12) level, locking the screw heads along the way.

Over distraction should be avoided because it will flatten the lumbar lordosis.

The laminae and the transverse processes are decorticated with an osteotome.

Care should be taken to always point the osteotome away from the spinal canal.

Alternatively, the decortication may be performed with a powered burr.

Bone graft (allograft, autograft, or bone substitutes) is copiously placed over the entire decorticated area.

Transverse connectors are then inserted one at each end of the construct.

At some point prior to wound closure intraoperative imaging should check:

• Fusion levels
• Screw position
• Overall coronal and sagittal correction and alignment

Intravenous antibiotics are administrated for at least 24 hours, depending on hospital protocol. The use of an epidural pain catheter vs. intravenous patient controlled analgesia (PCA) are utilized for acute pain management.

Early mobilization out of bed, is preferably started the day after surgery. Generally a postoperative brace/orthosis is not required.

It is appropriate to obtain upright PA and Lateral xrays of the patient at some point early postoperative either before the patient is discharged from the hospital or at the 1st postoperative visit as an outpatient

To allow the bone to heal and form a solid arthrodesis, some restriction of sports activities, especially contact sports, is usually advised for 6 months.

Early postoperative complications include:

• Postoperative wound infection
• Urinary tract infection
• Respiratory complications such as pneumonia

Late postoperative complications include:

• Pseudarthrosis with loss of correction
• Late deep wound infections
• "Adding on" which is progression of scoliotic deformity in the non-instrumented spine.
• Crankshaft phenomenon (progression of scoliotic deformity within the instrumented spine).
• Implant failure or other implant related complications

In the long term adjacent segment degenerations above and below the instrumented spine may occur.