Liljenqvist U, Halm H
Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Orthopädie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
Z Orthop Ihre Grenzgeb. 1998 Jan-Feb;136(1):50-6. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1044651.
In order to evaluate the benefits of the doublerod-VDS in the operative treatment of scoliosis the midterm results were critically analysed with specific respect to primary stability.
24 patients with either idiopathic or neuromuscular curves were treated with the Doublerod-VDS. In some cases a singlerod instrumentation had to be carried out in the cranial fusion area due to too small vertebrae (Hybrid-VDS). Patients with thoracic curves were ambulated without any external support, the thoracolumbar curves were ambulated in a light, semirigid vest for a few months. All data including early and late complications were collected prospectively and a thorough radiometric analysis was carried out.
Fusion was mostly carried out from end- to end-vertebra. The correction of the idiopathic curves averaged 60.2% (preoperative Cobb angle 67.3 degrees) with a loss of correction of 5.2 degrees. In the neuromuscular curves the average correction was 61.1% (preoperative Cobb angle 99.8% degrees) and the average loss of correction 4.2 degrees. There was no kyphogenic effect noted. In 6 cases a rod fracture was observed, in 4 cases the fracture occurred within the singlerod instrumentation in hybrid-VDS. Two of these patients developed a pseudarthrosis with loss of correction but without any symptoms.
The hybrid-VDS does not offer any advantages compared to the Zielke-VDS. However, the doublerod-VDS in thoracic curves is primary stable and does not require any external support postoperatively. In thoracolumbar curves a light vest is suggested for the first postoperative months during day time.
