This study comes from the San Diego group, who have a long, cautious experience with VBT.
23 patients whose mean age at surgery was 12.2 +/- 1.6 years
Preoperatively:
Mean curve 53 +/- 8 degrees
All were Risser 0-1, Sanders 2-3 at
surgery
Minimum follow-up after surgery of 2 years, with mean
follow-up of 3.4 years +/-1.1 years
Results:
1. Scoliosis correction correlated with overall
height change, mainly within 2-3 years postop in Risser 0 patients.
2.
Sanders 2 group corrected at twice the rate as
the Sanders 3 group (2.8 degrees/year vs. 1.2 degrees/year)
a.
In Sanders 2 patients deformity correction
decreased after 3 years postoperatively
b.
In Sanders 3 patients deformity correction
decreased after 2 years postoperatively
This will help with decision making when determining
optimal therapeutic interventions, and the timing of VBT surgeries.