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Determining which spinal levels to instrument during surgical treatment of Lenke Type 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) depends on the reducibility of the primary and secondary curve patterns. This reducibility can be evaluated in several ways, with the most popular being radiographs in bending for moderate thoracic and lumbar curvatures. Hypothesis Side-bending radiographs will alter the choice of the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) for the surgical treatment of AIS.Thirteen experienced French spine surgeons were invited to perform surgical planning on 23 patients based on stereoradiographs with and without (standing) side-bending views. The surgical planning was repeated a second time to assess the intra- and inter-rater reliability. Variations in the choice of LIV were analyzed for each evaluation.The intra-rater reliability was moderate to substantial. The inter-rater reliability was low to moderate. The study compared 879 surgical plans. Selective fusion was chosen in 0.3% of the plans. The median LIV was L2. The availability of side bending views changed the plan in 39% of cases. However, 36% of the plans were changed in the control (test-retest) condition. No significant difference was found between the variations with side-bending radiographs and "control" variations (p0.05).The use of radiographs in bending has no significant effect on the LIV choice in this study. This result is derived from statistically robust analysis made possible by one of the largest datasets available on this topic. Large inter-rater variability was observed and will be explored further in a future study.II; non-randomized controlled comparative study.

Spinal balance can be defined as the trade-off between outside forces acting on the spine and the muscle response of the trunk, under sensorineural regulation, to maintain stable upright posture, both static and dynamic. Homo sapiens developed sagittal alignment along with bipedalism. The upright posture was an important step in human evolution, to master the environment, at the price of some instability in postural control in the trunk, and to maintain horizontal gaze. To make upright stance energetically economical and thus sustainable, reciprocal sagittal curvatures developed. Sagittal spinal organization is governed by strict rules under physiological conditions, enabling alignment between the center of mass and the lower limb joint centers. In children and adolescents, morphologic changes related to skeletal growth and postural control centers maturation alter spinal alignment and hence spinal balance, with increases in pelvic incidence, sacral slope and consequently lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis. Global cervical lordosis remains stable, at the cost of an increase of the inferior cervical lordosis angle in correlation with T1 inclination or T1 slope. In pathology, spinal alignment may induce certain spinal pathologies such as growth-related spinal dystrophy or spondylolisthesis. It can also be altered by spinal deformity such as scoliosis, a regional disorder inducing adjacent compensatory mechanisms. The management of spinal pathologies is indissociable from understanding and maintaining or restoring individual sagittal alignment so as to ensure physiological distribution of stresses and limit onset of complications or decompensation in adulthood.

IntroductionTo date there is no consensus on therapeutic indications in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with curvature between 30° and 60° at the end of growth.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess outcome in patients with moderate AIS.Material and methodsA multicenter retrospective study was conducted. Inclusion criteria were: Cobb angle, 30–60° at end of growth; and follow-up > 20 years. The data collected were angular values in adolescence and at last follow-up, and quality of life scores at follow-up.ResultsA total of 258 patients were enrolled: 100 operated on in adolescence, 116 never operated on, and 42 operated on in adulthood. Mean follow-up was 27.8 years. Cobb angle progression significantly differed between the 3 groups: 3.2° versus 8.8° versus 23.6°, respectively; P 35° (OR=4.278, P=0.002). There were no significant differences in quality of life scores.DiscussionPatients operated on in adolescence showed little radiological progression, demonstrating the efficacy of surgical treatment for curvature greater than 50°. Curvature greater than 40° was progressive and may require surgery in adulthood. Lumbar scoliosis showed greater potential progression than thoracic scoliosis in adulthood, requiring fusion as of 35° angulation.Level of evidenceIV, retrospective study.

Summary Background Osteoid osteoma is a painful benign osteogenic tumour for which the treatment objective is surgical resection of the nidus. The acetabular fossa is an uncommon site of involvement where surgical access can prove challenging. Materials and methods We report a case-series composed of five patients with osteoid osteoma of the acetabular fossa treated with percutaneous bone resection and drilling under computed tomography guidance. Results All five patients had an uneventful postoperative course with immediate pain relief that was sustained over time. Discussion The outcomes achieved using our percutaneous technique compare favourably with those of other percutaneous methods, most notably regarding pain relief and patient tolerance of the procedure. Conclusion Percutaneous bone resection and drilling under computed tomography guidance proved effective for the treatment of osteoid osteoma involving the acetabular fossa. Level of evidence Level IV.

Introduction Osteoid osteoma is a benign osteogenic tumor that is mainly located in the lower limbs. According to Campanacci the proximal femur is involved in 25% of cases. We present a series of 44 cases of osteoid osteoma located in the neck of the femur or the lesser trochanter treated by the minimally invasive method, CT-guided percutaneous bone resection and drilling (PBRD). Materials and methods This series included 44 patients, 20 girls and 24 boys, treated between 1987 and 2012. The average age at surgery was 12.7 years old (range 4–34). The diagnosis was based on the “association” of scintigraphy (hyperfixation) – CT scan (nidus located on the femoral neck or near the lesser trochanter). These patients underwent CT-guided PBRD under general anesthesia. Specific ancillary material was used to reach and remove the nidus and a cylinder of bone was sent to the pathologist for assessment. A lateral or anterior approach was used in all cases except one in which a posterior incision was made. Histological confirmation was obtained in 23 cases (the bone fragment was damaged in 21 cases). Results Forty-two patients were reviewed after a minimum follow-up of one year (12–56 months). Two patients were lost to follow-up. Results were evaluated clinically and on CT scan 1 year after surgery: there were 35 cures with complete and permanent pain relief. There were 5 failures and 1 case of recurrence requiring a second CT-guided PBRD procedure as well 2 complications involving femoral fracture (one associated with failure). Discussion The proximal femur is a common location of osteoid osteoma. Treatment requires careful preoperative planning to determine the surgical approach for safe removal. PBRD is a minimally invasive technique, allowing complete resection with suitable ancillary equipment. This method should be compared with thermoablation, which is a similar technique. Conclusion CT-guided PBRD is a therapeutic option in case of osteoid osteoma of the proximal femur. Level of evidence Level IV.

SummaryIsolated congenital elbow contracture is a rare upper-extremity disorder and there are few data about management of this condition. Authors report their experience after aggressive management of children with isolated congenital elbow contracture in flexion. Because of total absence of range of motion (ROM) improvement despites physical therapy (ROM 90–120°) and bone deformity, an anterior surgical release of the elbow was performed through an extensive lateral approach, at sixteen months of age. After surgery, this child was treated by three casts at maximal gained extension followed by sequential Turnbuckles splints. After five years of follow-up, the result was excellent with ROM 5–135°, normal function and absence of growth disturbance. The limiting factor of this protocol was excessive traction in elbow extension on the neurovascular structures, especially the radial nerve. This treatment represents an aggressive management with multiple general anaesthesia, but was found to be a valid option.