Five-year outcomes of the First Distal Uninstrumented Vertebra after posterior fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Lenke 1 or 2

Abstract Background Tilt of the First Distal Uninstrumented Vertebra (FDUV) reflects changes in the main curve and compensatory lumbar curve after posterior fusion to treat thoracic Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). Hypothesis FDUV tilt 5 years or more post-fusion depends chiefly on reduction of the main curve and on other factors such as selection of the last instrumented vertebra. Material and method A multicenter retrospective cohort of 182 patients with Lenke 1 or 2 AIS treated with posterior instrumentation and followed up for a mean of 8 years and a minimum of 5 years was studied. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether tilt of the upper endplate of the FDUV was ≤ 5° or > 5°at last follow-up. Variables associated with tilt were identified by multiple logistic regression. Results Six variables were significantly associated with FDUV tilt : percentage of correction at last follow-up, correction loss, lumbar modifier B, number of instrumented vertebrae, inclusion within the instrumentation of the distal neutral vertebra, and inclusion within the instrumentation of the lowest vertebra intersected by the central sacral vertical line. Discussion and conclusion The main variables associated with FDUV tilt ≤ 5° were a final correction percentage ≥ 60% and absence of correction loss between the postoperative period and last follow-up. Given the stable reduction provided by contemporary instrumentations, we recommend selective thoracic fusion of Lenke 1 or 2 AIS with lumbar modifiers A, B, and C. The lowest instrumented vertebra should be either the neutral vertebra or the vertebra intersected by the central sacral vertical line if it is distal to the neutral vertebra. Level of evidence IV Retrospective multicenter study.