[10-year results following surgery of idiopathic scoliosis using the Harrington technique (work by the "Conference of German-language Spinal Surgeons)].

From 1972 through 1976 90 patients with idiopathic scoliosis underwent posterior spine fusion using Harrington instrumentation. Follow up was 10 years or more with an average of 12 years. The most frequent and most serious complications occurred in adults with scoliotic deformities of more than 90 degrees. Vital capacity of adults improved more than 20 percent. In young patients with low grade scoliotic spines a better immediate postoperative correction was achieved. There was also a higher loss of correction later on in this group. Thus in the long term follow up there was no correlation between magnitude of the preoperative curve and postoperative correction.