Background:

Two ipsilateral hemivertebrae is less common and presents severe growth imbalance caused by the vertebral anomalies. However, there is a paucity of reports regarding to two ipsilateral thoracolumbar hemivertebrae. The purpose of present study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of the posterior surgical correction of thoraco-lumbar spine deformity caused by two ipsilateral hemivertebrae.

Methods:

From 2006 to 2014, a total of 14 consecutive pediatric patients with congenital thoraco-lumbar hemivertebrae were treated by posterior excision of hemivertebrae with short segment fusion. The following parameters were measured: coronal major curvature, cranial and caudal compensatory curvature, segmental kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, trunk shift, apical vertebra translation and sagittal vertical axis. These results were compared and evaluated in preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and at the final follow-up. All patients had a minimum of 5 years follow-up.

Results:

The mean age at surgery was 11.1 ± 4.8 years (2yos to 17yos). The mean follow-up period was 80.2 ± 19.4 months (60mons to 117mons). There was a mean improvement of 74.2% in the coronal major curve from a mean angle of 64.1° before surgery to 15.8° at the final follow-up. The cranial and caudal curves improved of 69.8 and 69.0% from 25.6° to 7.7°, 26.9 to 8.2, respectively. The mean thoraco-lumbar kyphosis was 59.9° before and 13.6° after surgery, 20.8° at the final follow-up. Alignment in the coronal and sagittal plane was either maintained or improved within normal values in all patients.

Conclusions:

Good correction and spinal balance can be achieved by posterior-only hemivertebrectomy in patients with thoracolumbar kyphocsoliosis caused by two ipsilateral hemivertebra. The complication of neurological injury is low but a technically demanding procedure. More attention should be paid in residual curve progression after surgery.