Long-term outcome in neuromuscular scoliosis fused only to lumbar 5.

Methods: Outcomes are retrospectively compared for patients with neuromuscular scoliosis after instrumented surgery and fusion to the pelvis versus lumbar 5 fusion alone. Objective: To compare outcomes for patients with neuromuscular scoliosis for correction of scoliosis, lumbar 5 tilt, and pelvic obliquity after instrumented surgery and pelvic fusion, and by fusion only to lumbar 5.

Background: Correction of scoliosis and pelvic obliquity in neuromuscular disease using spinal instrumentation is an accepted surgical procedure. Controversy remains concerning the caudal extent of fusion and instrumentation to lumbar 5 or to the sacrum.

Methods: Patients with progressive neuromuscular scoliosis underwent spinal fusion with segmental instrumentation using a U-rod terminating in pedicle screw fixation at L5. Similar patients underwent spinal fusion with a unit rod and sacral fusion.

Results: From 1998 to 2002, 55 patients with neuromuscular scoliosis underwent instrumentation and L5 fusion with the U-rod or to the sacrum with the unit rod. Initial and long-term corrections of scoliosis and pelvic obliquity were similar in both groups.

Conclusions: Instrumentation and fusion to L5 is a less technically difficult procedure, requires less surgical time, has decreased blood loss, and less risk of infection compared to instrumented pelvic fusion. Postoperative and long-term follow-up indicates that L5 fusion can correct scoliosis and pelvic obliquity, comparable to results of sacrum fusion.