Thoracic hemivertebra excision in adults via a posterior-only approach

Abstract

Hemivertebrae are a common cause of congenital scoliosis. Depending on their location and the magnitude of the resultant deformity, they may be asymptomatic or require treatment. In the past, treatment has focused on prevention of deformity progression in growing children. Little has been written about congenital scoliosis presenting in adulthood. Because the aging of the spine is a kyphosing process and hemivertebrae often present with a local segmental kyphotic alignment, this can become symptomatic. Excision of hemivertebrae is well established as a safe and effective procedure when treatment is required. Initially this was conducted via a combined anterior-posterior approach. Recently some authors have indicated that in the lumbar spine hemivertebra resection can safely and effectively be achieved via a single posterior transpedicular approach. The authors report two adult cases in which they performed posterior transpedicular lateral extracavitary excision of a thoracic, fully segmented hemivertebrae. Essentially complete correction of the deformity was achieved. There were no neurological complications. The patients were spared a thoracotomy and no chest tubes were required.