Surgical treatment of Scheuermann's disease with segmental compression instrumentation

Twenty-one patients with Scheuermanns kyphosis had surgery for progressive kyphotic deformity of 50 degrees or greater. There were six adolescents, wi th a mean age of 15.6 years (range, 13-17 years) and 15 young adults, with a mean age of 25.4 years (range, 18-40 years). All patients had posterior s pine arthrodesis with segmental compression instrumentation. Seven patients with rigid kyphosis had combined anterior and posterior spine arthrodesis. One patient died of superior mesenteric artery syndrome. In the group of 1 3 patients with posterior arthrodesis only, followup was 4.5 years. The mea n preoperative thoracic kyphotic curve of 68.5 degrees improved to 40 degre es at latest review, with an average loss of correction of 5.75 degrees. Ju nctional kyphosis occurred in two patients with a short arthrodesis: one at the cephalad end and one at the caudal end of the fused kyphotic curve. In the second group of seven patients with combined anterior and posterior ar throdesis, followup was 6 years. The mean preoperative thoracic kyphotic cu rve of 86.3 degrees improved to 46.4 degrees at latest review, with an aver age loss of correction of 4.4 degrees. Overall, there was no postoperative neurologic deficit and no pseudarthrosis. Thus, posterior arthrodesis and s egmental compression instrumentation seems to be effective for correcting a nd stabilizing kyphotic deformity in Scheuermann's disease. Despite a long operating time, this technique provided significant correction, avoiding th e development of any secondary deformity in most patients. Combined anterio r and posterior spine arthrodesis is recommended for rigid, more severe kyp hotic deformities.