Anterior release combined with posterior correction for the treatment of severe scoliosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical results of anterior spinal release combined with posterior correction for the treatment of severe scoliosis. METHODS: Twenty-three patients of severe scoliosis were retrospectively analyzed from July 2000 to January 2007. There were 12 males and 11 females with an average age of 15.3 years (ranging from 9 to 18 years). Including 9 congenital scoliosis, 13 idiopethic scoliosis and 1 neurofibromatosis scoliosis. The pre-operative coronal Cobb angles of scoliosis were from 810 to 1260 with the mean of 97.4 degrees. RESULTS: The post-operative coronal Cobb angles was for 100-450 (37.4 degrees on average). All patients were followed up for 6-24 months (means 10 months). Two cases occurrenced addition phenomemon in junctional zone. There were no hook displacement and rod breaking at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Anterior relaxation and posterior correction is a safe and effective treatment. It can achieve well clinical results for the treatment of severe scoliosis.