Clinical Outcomes and Spinal Growth After Posterior Hemivertebra Resection and Short Segment Fusion in Children

Abstract

Abstract In order to evaluate the corrective effect of posterior hemivertebra resection and short-segment fusion surgery on pediatric patients and to assess the impact of short-segment fixation surgery on vertebral development during follow-up, a retrospective analysis was performed on 28 pediatric patients who underwent posterior hemivertebra resection surgery. The corrective effect was evaluated by comparing the preoperative, postoperative, and final follow-up Cobb angle, upper and lower compensatory curves and trunk balance. Meanwhile, the vertebral and spinal canal diameters of instrumented vertebrae and adjacent noninstrumented vertebrae were measured and compared between preoperative and final follow-up to assess the vertebral and spinal canal development. The correction rate of main curve Cobb angle was 72.2%. The estimated mean vertebral volume of the instrumented vertebra was slightly lower than that of the unfused segment at the final follow-up, but the difference was not statistically significant. The growth rate of the spinal canal during follow-up was much smaller than that of the vertebral body. Although internal fixation surgery might have a slight inhibitory effect on vertebral development within the fused segment in younger patients, it does not cause iatrogenic spinal canal stenosis or neurological dysfunction. Posterior hemivertebra resection and short-segment fusion surgery are safe and effective.