SECURE FIXATION OF LUMBAR OSTEOTOMY - SURGICAL EXPERIENCE WITH 50 PATIENTS

Despite intensive conservative treatment, severe kyphotic spinal defor mities may develop in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, Lumbar ost eotomy can restore a horizontal visual field in these patients, Of 50 patients undergoing corrective lumbar osteotomy, there were 44 men and 6 women, A transpedicular screw and cable system was used in 37 patie nts, Mean correction of deformity was 38.7 degrees, Mean loss of corre ction was 4.8 degrees, but was 15 degrees in those cases in which tran spedicular fixation was not used, All patients were able to see straig ht ahead after the operation, There were 2 deaths and 1 permanent sacr al root lesion, Fixation failure was seen in 2 of 37 patients in whom transpedicular implants were used and in 3 of 13 in whom alternative m ethods of internal fixation were used.