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Background: Anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT) is an alternative to posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for the surgical treatment of scoliosis. The present study utilized a large, multicenter database and propensity matching to compare outcomes of AVBT to PSF in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Methods: Patients with thoracic idiopathic scoliosis who underwent AVBT with a minimum 2-year follow-up retrospectively underwent 2 methods of propensity-guided matching to PSF patients from an idiopathic scoliosis registry. Radiographic, clinical, and Scoliosis Research Society 22-Item Questionnaire (SRS-22) data were compared preoperatively and at the ≥2-year follow-up. Results: A total of 237 AVBT patients were matched with 237 PSF patients. In the AVBT group, the mean age was 12.1 ± 1.6 years, the mean follow-up was 2.2 ± 0.5 years, 84% of patients were female, and 79% of patients had a Risser sign of 0 or 1, compared with 13.4 ± 1.4 years, 2.3 ± 0.5 years, 84% female, and 43% Risser 0 or 1 in the PSF group. The AVBT group was younger (p < 0.001), had a smaller mean thoracic curve preoperatively (48 ± 9°; range, 30° to 74°; compared with 53 ± 8°; range, 40° to 78° in the PSF group; p < 0.001), and had less initial correction (41% ± 16% correction to 28° ± 9° compared with 70% ± 11% correction to 16° ± 6° in the PSF group; p < 0.001). Thoracic deformity at the time of the latest follow-up was 27° ± 12° (range, 1° to 61°) for AVBT compared with 20° ± 7° (range, 3° to 42°) for PSF (p < 0.001). A total of 76% of AVBT patients had a thoracic curve of <35° at the latest follow-up compared with 97.4% of PSF patients (p < 0.001). A residual curve of >50° was present in 7 AVBT patients (3%), 3 of whom underwent subsequent PSF, and in 0 PSF patients (0%). Forty-six subsequent procedures were performed in 38 AVBT patients (16%), including 17 conversions to PSF and 16 revisions for excessive correction, compared with 4 revision procedures in 3 PSF patients (1.3%; p < 0.01). AVBT patients had lower median preoperative SRS-22 mental-health component scores (p < 0.01) and less improvement in the pain and self-image scores between preoperatively and the ≥2-year follow-up (p < 0.05). In the more strictly matched analysis (n = 108 each), 10% of patients in the AVBT group and 2% of patients in the PSF group required a subsequent surgical procedure. Conclusions: At a mean follow-up of 2.2 years, 76% of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis patients who underwent AVBT had a residual curve of <35° compared with 97.4% of patients who underwent PSF. A total of 16% of cases in the AVBT group required a subsequent surgical procedure compared with 1.3% in the PSF group. An additional 4 cases (1.3%) in the AVBT group had a residual curve of >50° that may require revision or conversion to PSF. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At academic medical centers, residents and fellows play an integral role as surgical first assistants in spinal deformity surgery. However, limited data exist on whether the experience level of the surgical assistant affects outcomes.Methods: We conducted a multicenter, multisurgeon study comparing perioperative and postoperative outcomes after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery for the same 11 surgeons who performed cases that were assisted by residents compared with cases that were assisted by fellows. Blood loss, operative time, duration of hospitalization, complication rates, Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 questionnaire scores, and radiographic outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.Results: We evaluated outcomes for 347 surgical procedures; 118 cases were assisted by residents and 229 were assisted by fellows. Preoperative radiographic and demographic parameters were not different between the groups. The resident group had significantly more estimated blood loss than the fellow group (939 compared with 762 mL, p = 0.02). Otherwise, the perioperative characteristics were similar between the groups, including the volume of the autologous blood recovery system product that was transfused, the operative time, and the occurrence of intraoperative neuromonitoring changes. Postoperatively, the percentage correction of the Cobb angle, the number of levels that had been fused, the number of days until the discharge criteria had been met, and the rate of major complications were similar between the groups. At the 2-year follow-up, the overall and subdomain SRS-22 questionnaire scores were not different between the groups, except that patients in the resident-assisted group had slightly worse pain scores than those in the fellow-assisted group (4.3 compared with 4.5, p = 0.01).Conclusions: The first assistant's level of training did not affect clinical or radiographic outcomes following AIS surgery.Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reporting accurate surgical complication rates to patients and their families is important in the management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). In this study, we report the rate of major complications following the surgical treatment of AIS both in the perioperative period and among patients with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up.Methods: We reviewed the prospectively collected data of a multicenter registry of patients who underwent surgical treatment of AIS during the period of 1995 to 2014 in order to identify all complications. A complication was defined as "major" if it resulted in reoperation or in spinal cord or nerve root injury, or was life-threatening. A total of 3,582 patients with preoperative and early postoperative data (4 to 6 weeks of follow-up) were included. A subset of 2,220 patients with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up comprised the cohort for delayed complications. Overall complication rates were calculated, as was the percentage of complications according to the year of the index surgery and type of surgical approach.Results: The mean age of the 3,582 patients at the time of surgery was 14.8 ± 2.2 years. The average major curve magnitude was 56° ± 13° for thoracic curves and 51° ± 11° for lumbar. In 365 patients, anterior spinal fusion (ASF) with instrumentation was performed, and in 3,217 patients, posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with instrumentation was performed; 142 patients in the PSF group underwent concomitant anterior release. There were 192 major complications, with 93 (2.6%) occurring perioperatively. Perioperative complications included wound-related (1.0% of the patients), neurologic (0.5%), pulmonary (0.4%), instrumentation-related (0.4%), and gastrointestinal (0.2%) complications. One patient died. The mean annual perioperative major complication rate based on the year of surgery ranged from 0% to 10.5%. The complication rate by surgical approach was 3.0% for ASF and 2.6% for PSF (2.4% for PSF only and 5.6% for PSF with anterior release). The major complication rate for the 2,220 patients with at least 2 years of follow-up was 4.1%; all but 1 had a reoperation (4.1%). The majority of these major complications were wound and instrumentation-related (1.9% and 0.8%, respectively).Conclusions: After surgery for AIS, a 2.6% rate of perioperative major complications and a 4.1% rate of major complications at 2 or more years after surgery can be anticipated. The complication rate decreased over the period of study.Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Confidence in intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) data can allow scoliosis surgeons to proceed with surgery even after a monitoring alert, assuming the recovery of signals. We sought to determine the outcomes of surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) after a notable IONM alert.Methods: We identified 676 patients who underwent arthrodesis with use of IONM for the treatment of AIS. The patients were divided into 2 cohorts: those who experienced a lower-extremity IONM alert and those who did not. An alert was defined as a notable change in IONM data, specifically, a ≥50% drop in somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and/or in transcranial motor evoked potentials (tcMEPs).Results: Of the 676 patients, 36 (5.3%) experienced IONM alerts. Those patients had a larger preoperative major Cobb angle (mean of 61° ± 13° compared with 55° ± 12° for the no-alert group; p < 0.01), a greater number of levels fused (mean of 12 ± 2 compared with 11 ± 2; p < 0.01), a longer operative duration (mean of 357 ± 157 minutes compared with 298 ± 117 minutes; p < 0.01), a higher estimated blood loss (1,857 ± 1,323 mL compared with 999 ± 796 mL; p < 0.01), and a greater volume of autologous blood transfused (mean of 527 ± 525 mL compared with 268 ± 327 mL; p < 0.01). Among patients who experienced an alert and had a completed operation (34 of 36 patients), mean postoperative radiographic measurements were similar to those of the no-alert group in terms of the percentage of correction of the major Cobb angle (alert, 66% ± 13%; no alert, 64% ± 19%; p = 0.53) and of rib prominence (alert, 49% ± 36%; no alert, 47% ± 46%; p = 0.83) and measurement of thoracic kyphosis (alert, 23° ± 10°; no alert, 22° ± 2°; p = 0.58). The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 outcome scores were also similar between the 2 cohorts.Conclusions: Notable IONM changes occurred in 5.3% of the patients who underwent arthrodesis for AIS. Those patients had larger preoperative deformity, a longer operative duration, a greater number of levels fused, a higher estimated blood loss, and a greater volume of autologous blood transfused. Return of IONM data guided the surgeon to safely complete the procedure in 34 of 36 patients, with correction similar to that of patients who did not experience an alert.Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Single-surgeon series investigating the learning curve involved in surgery for spinal deformity may be confounded by changes in technology and techniques. Our objective with this multicenter, prospective study was to present a cross-sectional analysis of the impact of surgeon experience on surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Methods: All posterior-only surgical procedures for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis performed in the 2007 to 2008 academic year, with a minimum of two years of patient follow-up, were included. Two groups were created on the basis of surgeon experience: a young surgeons’ group, which included patients of surgeons with less than five years of experience, and an experienced surgeons’ group, which included patients of surgeons with five or more years of experience. Results: Nine surgeons (four young and five experienced) operated on a total of one hundred and sixty-five patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The surgeons’ experience ranged from less than one year to thirty-six years in practice. The two groups had similar preoperative curve-magnitude measurements, SRS-22 (Scoliosis Research Society-22) scores, and distribution by Lenke curve type. There were significant operative and postoperative differences. The young surgeons fused an average of 1.2 levels more than the experienced surgeons (p = 0.045). The mean intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL) of the young surgeons’ group was more than twice that of the experienced surgeons’ group (2042 mL compared with 1013 mL; p < 0.001). The duration of surgery was 458 minutes for the young surgeons compared with 265 minutes for the experienced surgeons (p < 0.001). The overall SRS-22 scores were significantly worse in the young surgeons’ group (a mean of 4.1 compared with 4.5; p = 0.001). The difference between groups was also significant for the domains of pain (p = 0.016), self-image (p = 0.008), and function (p < 0.001). Complication rates did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusions: Operative results and health-related quality of life following surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were significantly and positively correlated with surgeon experience. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antifibrinolytics can reduce intraoperative blood loss. The primary aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of intraoperative tranexamic acid, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, and placebo at reducing perioperative blood loss and the transfusion rate in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal arthrodesis. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison of tranexamic acid, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, and placebo used intraoperatively in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. One hundred and twenty-five patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were randomly assigned to the tranexamic acid, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, or control groups. Parameters recorded included estimated blood loss, hematocrit, blood product usage, drain output, and total blood losses. The primary outcomes were intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage. Secondary outcomes were transfusion requirements and hematocrit changes both intraoperatively and postoperatively. Results: One hundred and twenty-five patients (ninety-seven female and twenty-eight male, with a mean age of fifteen years) were randomized to receive tranexamic acid (thirty-six patients), epsilon-aminocaproic acid (forty-two patients), or saline solution (forty-seven patients). The groups were similar at baseline, with one exception: the saline solution group had a higher estimated blood volume at baseline than the tranexamic acid group. Both tranexamic acid and epsilonaminocaproic acid reduced the estimated blood loss per degree and estimated blood loss per pedicle screw. Epsilonaminocaproic acid, but not tranexamic acid, reduced estimated blood loss and estimated blood loss per level. Tranexamic acid also reduced total blood losses compared with epsilon-aminocaproic acid or saline solution. In an analysis controlling for level, degree, and number of anchors, tranexamic acid reduced drain output and total blood losses. Tranexamic acid or epsilon-aminocaproic acid had a smaller decrease in hematocrit postoperatively. In an analysis controlling for the mean arterial pressure during surgical exposure, tranexamic acid reduced estimated blood loss and total blood losses. Overall, antifibrinolytics (tranexamic acid or epsilon-aminocaproic acid) reduced estimated blood loss, total blood losses, and the decline in hematocrit postoperatively compared with saline solution. There was no difference among the groups with respect to the transfusion rate, duration of surgery, levels fused, or pedicle screws placed. Conclusions: Tranexamic acid and epsilon-aminocaproic acid reduced operative blood loss but not transfusion rate. Tranexamic acid is more effective at reducing postoperative drainage and total blood losses compared with epsilonaminocaproic acid. Maintenance of the mean arterial pressure at <75 mm Hg during surgical exposure appears to be critical for maximizing antifibrinolytic benefit. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Appearance concerns in individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can result in impairment in daily functioning, or body image disturbance. The Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire (BIDQ) is a self-reported, sevenquestion instrument that measures body image disturbance in general populations; no studies have specifically examined body image disturbance in those with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. This study aimed to validate a modified version of the BIDQ in a population with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and to establish discriminant validity by comparing responses of operatively and nonoperatively treated patients with those of normal controls. Methods: In the first phase, a multicenter study of forty-nine patients (mean age, fourteen years; thirty-seven female) with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was performed to validate the BIDQ-Scoliosis version (BIDQ-S). Participants completed the BIDQ-S, Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22, Children's Depression Index (CDI), and Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated. In the second phase, ninety-eight patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (mean age, 15.7 years; seventy-five female) matched by age and sex with ninety-eight healthy adolescents were enrolled into a single-center study to evaluate the discriminant validity of the BIDQ-S. Subjects completed the BIDQ-S and a demographic form before treatment. Independent-sample t tests and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated. Results: The BIDQ-S was internally consistent (Cronbach alpha = 0.82), and corrected item total correlations ranged from 0.47 to 0.67. The BIDQ-S was significantly correlated with each domain of the SRS-22 and the total score (r =-0.50 to -0.72, p ≤ 0.001), with the CDI (r = 0.31, p = 0.03), and with the BESAA (r = 0.60, p < 0.001). BIDQ-S scores differed significantly between patients (1.50) and controls (1.06, p < 0.005), establishing discriminant validity. Conclusions: The BIDQ-S is an internally consistent outcomes instrument that correlated with the SRS-22, CDI, and BESAA outcomes instruments in a scoliosis population. The scores of the patients with scoliosis indicated greater backrelated body image disturbance compared with healthy controls. To our knowledge, this user-friendly instrument is the first to examine body image disturbance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, and it provides a comprehensive evaluation of how scoliosis-related appearance concerns impact psychosocial and daily functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although achieving clinical success is the main goal in the surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, it is becoming increasingly important to do so in a cost-effective manner. The goal of the present study was to determine the surgical and hospitalization costs, charges, and reimbursements for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis correction surgery at one institution. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 16,536 individual costs and charges, including overall reimbursements, for 125 consecutive patients who were managed surgically for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by three different surgeons between 2006 and 2007. Demographic, surgical, and radiographic data were recorded for each patient. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was employed to assess independent correlation with total cost and charge. Nonparametric descriptive statistics were calculated for total cost with use of the Lenke curve-classification system. Results: The mean age of the patients was 15.2 years. The mean main thoracic curve measured 50°, and the thoracolumbar curve measured 41°. The cost varied with Lenke curve type: $29,955 for type 1, $31,414 for type 2, $31,975 for type 3, $60,754 for type 4, $32,652 for type 5, and $33,416 for type 6. Independently significant increases for total cost were found in association with the number of pedicle screws placed, the total number of vertebral levels fused, and the type of surgical approach (R² = 0.35, p ⩽ 0.03). Independently significant increases for reimbursement were found in association with the number of pedicle screws placed and the type of surgical approach (R² = 0.12, p ⩽ 0.02). The hospital was reimbursed 53% of total charges and 120% of total costs. Reimbursement was highly correlated with charge (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). For rehospitalizations, the hospital was reimbursed 65% of charges and 93% of costs. Conclusions: The largest contributors to overall cost were implants (29%), intensive care unit and inpatient room costs (22%), operating room time (9.9%), and bone grafts (6%). There were three significant independent predictors of increased total cost: the surgical approach used, the number of pedicle screws placed, and the number of vertebral levels fused. This study characterizes the relative contributions of factors that contribute to total costs, charges, and reimbursements that can, in time, identify potential areas for cost reduction or redistribution of resources in the surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the gold standard for the surgical treatment of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has been posterior spinal fusion, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery recently has become a viable alternative. In the treatment of structural thoracic curves, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has demonstrated outcomes equivalent to those of posterior spinal fusion with use of an all-hook or hybrid pedicle screw-hook construct. No study to date, however, has compared this technique with posterior spinal fusion with thoracic pedicle screws, which has become the current standard of care. Methods: A matched-pair analysis of thirty-four consecutive patients (seventeen pairs) undergoing either video- assisted thoracoscopic surgery or posterior spinal fusion with thoracic pedicle screws for the treatment of structural scoliosis was performed; the study included eight male and twenty-six female patients with an average age of 15.0 years. Pairs were matched according to curve type and magnitude, patient age, and sex. Clinical data, the results of the Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire, and radiographic data were collected preoperatively and at a minimum of two years postoperatively and were compared between the groups. Results: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was associated with significantly increased operative times (mean, 326 compared with 246 minutes; p = 0.033) and reduced blood loss (mean, 371 compared with 1018 mL; p = 0.001), but there were no differences between the groups in terms of the transfusion rate (18% compared with 29%; p = 0.69) or the length of stay. The percentage correction of the major curve was 57.3% for the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group and 63.8% for the posterior spinal fusion group (p = 0.08). With the numbers available, no differences were detected in terms of the cephalad thoracic curve, caudad compensatory lumbar curve, coronal balance, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sagittal balance, end vertebra tilt angle, or angle of trunk rotation measurements pre-operatively or at the time of the latest follow-up. The average number of fused levels was 5.9 in the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group and 8.9 in the posterior spinal fusion group (p < 0.001). Relative to the Cobb end vertebra, the most caudad instrumented vertebra was 0.81 level more cephalad in the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group as compared with the posterior spinal fusion group (p = 0.004). No significant differences were detected in any of the questionnaire outcomes at any time point. Although both groups experienced similar improvement from baseline in terms of pulmonary function at two years, the posterior spinal fusion group had significantly improved peak flow measurements (p = 0.04) in comparison with the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group. Conclusions: For single thoracic curves of <70° in patients with a normal or hypokyphotic thoracic spine, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery can produce equivalent radiographic results, patient-based clinical outcomes, and complication rates in comparison with posterior spinal fusion with thoracic pedicle screws, with the exception that posterior spinal fusion with thoracic pedicle screws may result in better major curve correction. The potential advantages of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery over posterior spinal fusion with thoracic pedicle screws include reduced blood loss, fewer total levels fused, and the preservation of nearly one caudad fusion level, whereas the disadvantages include increased operative times and slightly less improvement in pulmonary function. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Posterior spinal fusion with segmental instrumentation is the gold standard for the surgical treatment of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. More recently, anterior surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with spinal instrumentation have become an option. The purpose of the present study was to compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes as well as pulmonary function in patients managed with either anterior thoracoscopic or posterior surgery. METHODS: Radiographic data, Scoliosis Research Society patient-based outcome questionnaires, pulmonary function, and operative records were reviewed for fifty-one patients undergoing surgical treatment of scoliosis. Data were collected preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at the time of the final follow-up. The radiographic parameters that were analyzed included coronal curve correction, the most caudad instrumented vertebra tilt angle correction, coronal balance, and thoracic kyphosis. The operative parameters that were evaluated included the operative time, the estimated blood loss, the blood transfusion rate, the number of levels fused, the type of bone graft used, and the number of intraoperative and postoperative complications. The pulmonary function parameters that were analyzed included vital capacity and peak flow. RESULTS: The thoracoscopic group included twenty-eight patients with a mean age of 14.6 years, and the posterior fusion group included twenty-three patients with a mean age of 14.3 years. The percent correction was 54.5% for the thoracoscopic group and 55.3% for the posterior group. With the numbers available, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of kyphosis (p = 0.84), coronal balance (p = 0.70), or tilt angle (p = 0.91) at the time of the final follow-up. The mean number of levels fused was 5.8 in the thoracoscopic group, compared with 9.3 levels in the posterior group (p < 0.0001). The estimated blood loss in the thoracoscopic group was significantly less than that in the posterior fusion group (361 mL compared with 545 mL; p = 0.03), and the transfusion rate in the thoracoscopic group was significantly lower than that in the posterior fusion group (14% compared with 43%; p = 0.01). Operative time in the thoracoscopic group was significantly greater than that in the posterior group (6.0 compared with 3.3 hours, p < 0.0001). There were no intraoperative complications in either group. Vital capacity and peak flow had returned to baseline levels in both groups at the time of the final follow-up. Patients in the thoracoscopic group scored higher than those in the posterior group in terms of the total score (p <0.0001) and all of the domains (p < 0.01) of the Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire at the time of the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation compares favor- ably with posterior fusion in terms of coronal plane curve correction and balance, sagittal contour, the rate of complications, pulmonary function, and patient-based outcomes. The advantages of the procedure include the need for fewer levels of spinal fusion, less operative blood loss, lower transfusion requirements, and improved cosmesis as a result of small, well-hidden incisions. However, the operative time for the thoracoscopic procedure was nearly twice that for the posterior approach. Additional study is needed to determine the precise role of thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation in the treatment of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Posterior spinal fusion with segmental instrumentation is the gold standard for the surgical treatment of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. More recently, anterior surgery and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with spinal instrumentation have become available. The purpose of the present study was to compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes as well as pulmonary function in patients managed with either anterior thoracoscopic or posterior surgery. Methods: Radiographic data, Scoliosis Research Society patient-based outcome questionnaires, pulmonary function, and operative records were reviewed for fifty-one patients undergoing surgical treatment of scoliosis. Data were collected preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at the time of the final follow-up. The radiographic parameters that were analyzed included coronal curve correction, the most caudad instrumented vertebra tilt angle correction, coronal balance, and thoracic kyphosis. The operative parameters that were evaluated included the operative time, the estimated blood loss, the blood transfusion rate, the number of levels fused, the type of bone graft used, and the number of intraoperative and postoperative complications. The pulmonary function parameters that were analyzed included vital capacity and peak flow. Results: The thoracoscopic group included twenty-eight patients with a mean age of 14.6 years, and the posterior fusion group included twenty-three patients with a mean age of 14.3 years. The percent correction was 54.5% for the thoracoscopic group and 55.3% for the posterior group. With the numbers available, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of kyphosis (p = 0.84), coronal balance (p = 0.70), or tilt angle (p = 0.91) at the time of the final follow-up. The mean number of levels fused was 5.8 in the thoracoscopic group, compared with 9.3 levels in the posterior group (p < 0.0001). The estimated blood loss in the thoracoscopic group was significantly less than that in the posterior fusion group (361 mL compared with 545 mL; p = 0.03), and the transfusion rate in the thoracoscopic group was significantly lower than that in the posterior fusion group (14% compared with 43%; p = 0.01). Operative time in the thoracoscopic group was significantly greater than that in the posterior group (6.0 compared with 3.3 hours, p < 0.0001). There were no intraoperative complications in either group. Vital capacity and peak flow had returned to baseline levels in both groups at the time of the final follow-up. Patients in the thoracoscopic group scored higher than those in the posterior group in terms of the total score (p < 0.0001) and all of the domains (p < 0.01) of the Scoliosis Research Society questionnaire at the time of the final follow-up. Conclusions: Thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation compares favorably with posterior fusion in terms of coronal plane curve correction and balance, sagittal contour, the rate of complications, pulmonary function, and patient-based outcomes. The advantages of the procedure include the need for fewer levels of spinal fusion, less operative blood loss, lower transfusion requirements, and improved cosmesis as a result of small, well-hidden incisions. However, the operative time for the thoracoscopic procedure was nearly twice that for the posterior approach. Additional study is needed to determine the precise role of thoracoscopic spinal instrumentation in the treatment of thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]