Study design: This is a retrospective single-center and single-surgeon study.
Objective: We investigated the correlation between lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) and spinal mobility 2 years after posterior spinal fusion with pedicle screws for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) for optimal LIV selection.
Summary of background: Spinal motion can become limited in scoliosis patients who undergo posterior spinal fusion. However, few reports exist on spinal mobility after posterior spinal fusion for AIS and the relationship between the LIV and mobility is unknown. We hypothesize that mobility limitation increases as the LIV is moved inferiorly.
Data: Of 72 consecutive patients who received posterior spinal fusion using pedicle screws for AIS between October 2009 and August 2015, 66 patients (5 male and 61 female, mean age: 14.9 y) were enrolled.
Materials and methods: In total, 66 patients were retrospectively reviewed after stratification according to LIV level. Follow-up rate was 91.7%. Patients were examined for the fingertip-to-floor distance (FFD) before and 2 years after surgery. FFD was measured from the tips of the middle fingers to the floor with the barefoot subject bent maximally forward and the feet together and knees straight. Clinical outcome was assessed using Scoliosis Research Society-22 patient questionnaire (SRS-22r) scores and a visual analog scale for low back pain before and at 2 years postoperatively.
Results: The median number of fused vertebrae was 9 (range: 4-15). The LIV was T11-12 in 15 patients, L1 in 11 patients, L2 in 10 patients, and L3 in 30 patients. The median decrease in FFD according to LIV at 2 years after surgery was T11-12: 0 cm, L1: 0 cm, L2: 5.5 cm, and L3: 10 cm. Thus, limited FFD became significantly more severe as the LIV was moved downwards (P<0.01). There were no significant correlations between limited FFD and SRS-22r or pain visual analog scale scores at 2 years postoperatively.
Conclusions: FFD became significantly more restricted as the LIV was moved inferiorly but clinical results appeared unaffected by limited FFD.