2004 Late Complications of Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis Primary Fusions Medscape

Description: From Spine 29(3):318-325, 2004
Late Complications of Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis Primary Fusions to L4 and Above: The Effect of Age and Distal Fusion Level
Posted 02/25/2004 Anthony Rinella, MD; Keith Bridwell, MD; Yongjung Kim, MD; Jonas Rudzki, MD; Charles Edwards, MD; Michael Roh, MD; Lawrence Lenke, MD; Annette Berra, BA
Conclusions: Patients with adult idiopathic scoliosis and long fusions had similar pseudarthrosis rates, but higher rates of transition syndrome when lowest instrumented vertebra was L3-L4 relative to levels T11-L2. When categorized by age, complication rates were similar in each group. Patients with pseudarthroses or other diagnoses requiring revision surgery had lower SRS-24 total scores than those without (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively).