Bilateral vertebral body tethering: identifying key factors associated with successful outcomes

Harms Study Group

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: The treatment of operative double major pediatric spinal deformities (e.g., Lenke 3 or 6) with bilateral vertebral body tethering (VBT) can be significantly more challenging when compared to other deformity patterns (e.g., Lenke 1) or treatment with a posterior spinal fusion. We aimed to identify preoperative and perioperative characteristics that were associated with successful postoperative outcomes in patients treated with both a thoracic and thoracolumbar (e.g., bilateral) tether. Methods: We retrospectively assessed radiographic and clinical data from patients enrolled in a large multi-center study who had a minimum postoperative follow-up of two years. Standard radiographic parameters were extracted from standing spine and left hand-wrist radiographs at various timepoints. We classified patients based on their preoperative deformity pattern (Primary Thoracic [TP] vs. Primary Thoracolumbar [TLP]) and assessed: (1) deformity balance, (2) tilt of the transitional vertebra, and (3) postoperative success. Results: We analyzed data from thirty-six patients (TP: 19 and TLP: 17). We observed no relationship between deformity balance at first erect and postoperative success (p = 0.354). Patients with a horizontal transitional vertebra at first erect were significantly (p = 0.001) more likely to exhibit a successful outcome when compared to those who exhibited a tilted transitional vertebra (83% vs. 62%). Patients who had TLP were also more likely to exhibit a successful outcome when compared to patients who exhibited TP (76% vs. 50%). Conclusion: These data indicate that double major deformities can be successfully treated with VBT, particularly for those who exhibit TLP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)723-731
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Spine Journal
Volume33
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2024

Keywords

  • Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
  • Anterior scoliosis correction
  • Non-fusion
  • Vertebral body tethering

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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