Effect of Lowest Instrumented Vertebra on Trunk Mobility in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing a Posterior Spinal Fusion

Authors

Ubong I. Udoekwere, Marquette University
Joseph Krzak, Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenFollow
Adam Graf, Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenFollow
Sahar Hassani, Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenFollow
Sergey Tarima, Medical College of Wisconsin
Mary Riordan, Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenFollow
Peter F. Sturm, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Kim W. Hammerberg, Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenFollow
Purnendu Gupta, Shriners Hospitals for Children
Alireza K. Anissipour, Midwestern University - Downers Grove
Gerald F. Harris, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

10 p.

Publication Date

7-2014

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Spine Deformity

Source ISSN

2212-134X

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1016/j.jspd.2014.04.006

Abstract

Study Design

Prospective.

Objectives

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of posterior spinal fusion surgery terminating at different lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV) on trunk mobility in individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Summary of Background Data

Posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation is the standard surgical technique employed in AIS for correcting spine deformities with Cobb angles exceeding 50°. Surgical correction of curve deformity reduces trunk mobility and range of motion. However, conflicting findings from previous studies investigating the impact of different LIV levels on the reduction in trunk mobility after surgery have been reported.

Methods

The study was designed as a prospective study with 47 patients (7 males and 40 females) with AIS who underwent posterior spinal fusion. Patients were classified into 5 groups based on their surgical LIV level (ie, T12, L1, L2, L3, and L4). Trunk flexion-extension (sagittal plane), lateral bending (coronal plane), and axial rotation (transverse plane) kinematics were assessed during preoperative, 1 year postoperative, and 2 years postoperative evaluation visits.

Results

There were postoperative reductions of 41%, 51%, and 59% in trunk range of motion in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes, respectively (p < .0001). A trend toward greater postoperative reductions in peak forward flexion at more distal LIVs was observed (p = .04).

Conclusions

Fusion reduces trunk mobility in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes. More distal LIV fusions limit peak forward flexion to a greater extent which is considered clinically significant. After fusion, the reductions seen in axial rotation, lateral bending, and backward extension do not differ significantly at more distal LIVs.

Comments

Accepted version. Spine Deformity, Vol. 2, No. 4 (July 2014): 291-300. DOI. © 2014 Scoliosis Research Society. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Udoekwere, Ubong I.; Krzak, Joseph; Graf, Adam; Hassani, Sahar; Tarima, Sergey; Riordan, Mary; Sturm, Peter F.; Hammerberg, Kim W.; Gupta, Purnendu; Anissipour, Alireza K.; and Harris, Gerald F., "Effect of Lowest Instrumented Vertebra on Trunk Mobility in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing a Posterior Spinal Fusion" (2014). Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 239.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bioengin_fac/239