Early and semi-early surgery for scoliosis caused by hemivertebrae--indications and results.

We report a series of 50 congenital scolioses due to hemivertebrae. This malformation was responsible for progressive deformity, largely predominant on the frontal plane. The average follow-up was 5 years and 3 months. Seven patients had mature bones. The series comprised 31 girls and 19 boys. Three types of operations were performed: (a) hemivertebrae resection (5 cases); (b) early, most posterior convexity fusion carried out before the age of 6 years (26 cases), and (c) semi-early convexity fusion performed between the ages of 6 and 12 years (19 cases). The results obtained in children with a more than 2 years' follow-up were: (a) early convexity fusion (18 cases): 7 epiphyseodesis effects, 6 graft effects and 4 failures; (b) semi-early convexity fusion (16 cases): 6 epiphyseodesis effects, 8 graft effects and 2 failures; (c) hemivertebrae resection (5 cases): moderate gain that remained stable in 4/5 cases.