Failed Primary Surgery in Congenital Scoliosis Caused by a Single Hemivertebra: Reasons and Revision Strategies

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors causing failure of primary surgery in congenital scoliosis (CS) patients with single hemivertebra (SHV) undergoing posterior spinal fusion, and to elucidate the revision strategies. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 32 CS patients secondary to SHV undergoing revision surgery from April 2010 to December 2017 due to failed primary surgery with more than 2 years follow‐up were reviewed. The reasons for failure of primary surgery and revision strategies were analyzed for each patient. The radiographic parameters including coronal Cobb angle, segmental kyphosis (SK), coronal balance (CB), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were compared between pre‐ and post‐revision. The complications during revision and follow‐up were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age at revision surgery of the 32 CS patients was 15.8 ± 9.7 years and the average duration between primary and revision surgery was 31.0 ± 35.4 months. The reasons for failed primary surgery were severe post‐operative curve progression of focal scoliosis in 14 cases (43.8%), implant failure in 17 (53.1%) and trunk imbalance in 12 (37.5%). The candidate revision strategies included thorough resection of residual hemivertebra and adjacent discs, extending fusion levels, complete pseudarthrosis resection, massive bone graft, replacement of broken rods, satellite rod fixation, horizontalization of upper/lower instrumented vertebrae and rigid fusion of structural compensatory curves were performed individually. After revision surgery, the coronal Cobb angle, SK, CB and SVA showed significant improvement (P < 0.05) with no significant correction loss during follow‐up (P > 0.05). The intra‐operative complications included alarming changes of neurologic monitoring in three (9.4%) patients and dual tear in two, while rod fracture re‐occurred was detected in one patient at 18 months after revision. CONCLUSIONS: The common reasons for failed primary surgery in CS patients with SHV undergoing posterior spinal fusion were severe post‐operative curve progression of focal scoliosis, implant failure and trunk imbalance. The revision strategies including thorough resection of residual hemivertebra and adjacent discs, extended fusion levels to structural curvature, complete pseudarthrosis resection, massive bone graft, replacement of broken internal fixation and horizontalization of upper/lower instrumented vertebrae should be individualized based on the causes of failed primary surgery.