Restoration of Thoracic Kyphosis in the Hypokyphotic Spine

Abstract

This study verified the efficacy of segmental pedicle screw fixation in restoring thoracic kyphosis in persons with hypokyphotic scoliosis. Fifty-one patients were divided into three groups by the degree of preoperative thoracic hypokyphosis and fixation method used: the hypokyphosis-hook (HH), hypokyphosis-screw (HS), and normal kyphosis-screw (NS) group. They were compared after a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. Preoperative thoracic kyphosis of 4.1 degrees +/- 8.6 degrees, 8.1 degrees +/- 5.6 degrees and 27.3 degrees +/- 9.8 degrees in the HH, HS, and NS groups were restored to 14.5 degrees +/- 10.2 degrees, 27.3 degrees +/- 11.3 degrees, and 28.3 degrees +/- 13.7 degrees, respectively. The difference between the HH and HS groups was significant (p = 0.000). The HS and the NS groups did not differ (p = 0.16). This indicates that segmental pedicle screw fixation was more effective than multiple hooks in restoring kyphosis in patients with hypokyphotic scoliosis and created kyphosis similar to that in patients without preoperative hypokyphosis.