Abstract
Nine patients with idiopathic thoracolumbar and lumbar scoliosis were treated with Zielke instrumentations and additional posterior fusions. The average age of patients was 14.0 years old. The mean follow-up period was 32.4 months. Their curves before operation averaged 54.6 degrees, and at follow-up 11.8 degrees. The correction rate was 76.8%. The average rotation of apical vertebrae (according to Nash and Moe's method) was 40.1% before operation and at follow-up 19.0%. The mean tilt angle of lower end vertebrae was corrected from 26.1 to 7.3 degrees.
With this method, we had good results in terms of correction of scoliosis. The rotation of the apical vertebrae and tilt angle of lower end vertebrae was corrected to some extent, but not satisfactory. Zielke instrumentation seems to have advantages in the correction of scoliosis, lordosis, rotation of apical vertebra, and tilt angle of lower end vertebra with minimal fusion. The problem is, however, how to decide the range of fusion. The question must be posed whether is is better to correct the alignment of vertebral columns more accurately or to keep more motion segments unfused.
