Bilateral apical vertebral derotation technique by vertebral column manipulation compared with vertebral coplanar alignment technique in the correction of lenke type 1 idiopathic scoliosis

Widely used rod rotation and translation techniques for idiopathic scoliosis (IS) are effective in correcting spinal coronal deformity. Bilateral apical vertebral derotation technique by vertebral column manipulation (VCM) and vertebral coplanar alignment (VCA) technique are two strategies for three-dimensional (3D) correction for IS. The purpose of this study is to compare the post-surgical results and technical features of the bilateral apical vertebral derotation technique by VCM against the VCA technique in patients with Lenke type 1 IS.

Forty-eight patients with Lenke type 1 IS were enrolled in the present prospective clinical assay. They were divided into groups A (bilateral apical vertebral derotation technique by VCM, n=24) and B (VCA technique, n=24). Radiographic parameters measured before and after surgery included the Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis, and apical vertebral rotation. Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 scores were evaluated during the final follow-up. The differences in the demographics, surgical details, and radiographic measurements between the two groups were determined using a T test. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to evaluate the differences in the SRS-22 scores. A value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

In the coronal plane, a significant difference was found in the correction rate of the major curve (group A: 84.8%, group B: 78.4%; P=0.045) and in the Cincinnati Correction Index between two groups (group A: 2.21, group B: 1.98; P=0.047). In the sagittal plane, no difference was found in the postoperative thoracic kyphosis between the two groups (P=0.328). In the transverse plane, no difference was found between the two groups in the correction rates of the rotation angle sagittal (P=0.298), rib hump (P=0.934), apical vertebral body-to-rib ratio (P=0.988), or apical rib spread difference (P=0.184). Patients underwent follow up for an average of 21.9 and 22.2 months in groups A and B, respectively. Results obtained at the final follow-up indicated no significant loss of correction. No differences were found in the SRS-22 scores between the two groups. No aortic or neurological complications were observed.

The 3D deformity of the spine was effectively corrected using the bilateral apical vertebral derotation technique by VCM and the VCA technique, and encouraging post-surgical results were obtained for patients with Lenke type 1 IS. The two techniques were effective in allowing 3D correctional force that was applied in different ways.