OBJECTIVE: to evaluate radiographic results regarding trunk decompensation of AIS treated with selective thoracic arthrodesis and 3ª generation instrumentation. METHODS: pre-operatory, immediately post-operatory and last radiography evaluations were carried out in 22 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis AIS type King II treated with selective thoracic arthrodesis from 1993 to 2007. The percentage of correction of the thoracic and lumbar curve was observed by means of Cobb method, as well as the trunk coronal balance by using SRS criteria. RESULTS: after mean percentage of correction in thoracic curve of 56 ± 11% and 49 ± 13% in lumbar curve, we observed an immediate coronal decompensation in six patients (27.20%). After a mean 65-month follow-up, four patients (18.18%) showed trunk coronal decompensation. Only one patient needed a new surgery with arthrodesis extension, including the lumbar curve, due to lumbar curve decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: severe trunk decompensation in need of a second procedure for lumbar fusion was not a frequent complication in this series.
Scoliosis; Spinal fusion; Adolescent
