Treatment of severe scoliosis with posterior-only approach arthrodesis and all-pedicle screw instrumentation

Purpose Posterior-only approach arthrodesis by all-pedicle screw instrumentation has a correction rate similar to correction obtained by traditional combined anterior/posterior approach surgery and avoids the complications associated with the thoracic approach. Methods We treated 25 patients, with a mean age 16.5 years, with severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by posterior-only approach using all-screw instrumentation arthrodesis. Mean scoliosis curve in Cobb degrees was 95° Cobb. All cases were treated by the same senior surgeon, by free hand technique, without intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring and spine navigation aids. Results Mean scoliosis curve after surgery was 37° Cobb. Mean follow-up was 4 years. No perioperative complications, curve progression or arthrodesis malunion were reported at the follow-up. Conclusions Posterior spinal fusion with pedicle screw-only instrumentation obtains a good and stable correction of severe scoliosis; compared to hybrid instrumentation, it allows a greater coronal correction of the deformity and less correction loss at the follow-up.