Characteristics analysis of segmental and regional lumbar spontaneous compensation post thoracic fusion in Lenke 1 and 2 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of compensation of unfused lumbar region post thoracic fusion in Lenke 1 and 2 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. BACKGROUND: Preserving lumbar mobility in the compensation is significant in controlling pain and maintaining its functions. The spontaneous correction of the distal unfused lumbar curve after STF has been widely reported, but previous study has not concentrated on the characteristics of compensation of unfused lumbar region post thoracic fusion. METHOD: A total of 51 Lenke 1 and2 AIS patients were included, whose lowest instrumented vertebrae was L1 from January 2013 to December 2019. For further analysis, demographic data and coronal radiographic films were collected before surgery, at immediate erect postoperatively and final follow-up. The wedge angles of each unfused distal lumbar segments were measured, and the variations in each disc segment were calculated at the immediate postoperative review and final follow-up. Meanwhile, the unfused lumbar curve was divided into upper and lower parts, and we calculated their curve angles and compensations. RESULTS: The current study enrolled 41 females (80.4%) and 10 males (19.6%). Thirty-six patients were Lenke type 1, while 15 patients were Lenke type 2. The average main thoracic Cobb angle and thoracolumbar/lumbar Cobb angle were 44.1 ± 7.7°and 24.1 ± 9.3°, preoperatively. At the final follow-up, the disc wedge angle variation of L1/2, L2/3, L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1 was 3.84 ± 5.96°, 3.09 ± 4.54°, 2.30 ± 4.53°, − 0.12 ± 3.89° and − 1.36 ± 2.80°, respectively. The compensation of upper and lower coronal lumbar curves at final follow-up were 9.22 ± 10.39° and − 1.49 ± 5.14°, respectively. CONCLUSION: When choosing L1 as the lowest instrumented vertebrae, the distal unfused lumbar segments’ compensation showed a decreasing trend from the proximal end to the distal end. The adjacent L1/2 and L2/3 discs significantly contributed to this compensation.