Abstract
Study Design: Systematic review of clinical studies. Objectives: To critically evaluate existing literature to determine whether increased anchor or implant density (screws, wires, and hooks per level fused) results in improved curve correction for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery. Summary of Background Data: Wide variability exists in the number of screws used for AIS surgery. High numbers of pedicle screws are increasingly used, but there is limited evidence to support this as best practice. Methods: Online English-language databases were searched to identify articles addressing anchor density. Articles were reviewed for anchor type/number, radiographic measures, and patient-reported outcomes. Results: Of 196 references identified, 10 studies totaling 929 patients met the inclusion criteria. Reported mean anchor density varied from 1.06 to 2.0 implants per level fused. Mean percent coronal curve correction varied from 64% to 70%. Two studies (463 patients) analyzed hook, hybrid (combined hooks and screws), and screw constructs as a single cohort. Both found increased correction with high-density constructs (p =.01, p <.001), perhaps as a result of the hooks and hybrid constructs. Eight retrospective studies and 1 prospective randomized, controlled trial had predominantly screw constructs (466 patients). Increased anchor density was not associated with improved curve correction. The studies evaluating screw density are significantly underpowered to detect a difference in curve correction. Conclusions: Wide heterogeneity in anchor density exists in the surgical treatment of AIS. Reports evaluating the effects of increased anchor density are mostly retrospective and significantly underpowered to detect a difference in curve correction and patient outcomes. At this time, there is insufficient evidence to show that anchor density affects clinical outcomes in AIS.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 237-247 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Spine Deformity |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2013 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Author disclosures: ANL (grants from Scoliosis Research Society , Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation ); CEA (grants from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery , Canadian Institutes of Health Research ; consultancy for Medtronic ); DWP (grants from Scoliosis Research Society, Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, Department of Defense–Neurofibromatosis Research Program ); CGTL (grants from Scoliosis Research Society, Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, Department of Defense–Neurofibromatosis Research Program; support for travel to meetings for study from Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation planning grant); BSL (consulting fee or honorarium from DePuy Spine; board membership with Spine Search; consultancy for DePuy Spine; payment for lectures from DePuy Spine, K2M; royalties from DePuy Spine; payment for development of educational presentations from DePuy Spine, K2M; stock/stock options from Spine Search, Paradigm Spine); SAS (board membership with SRS, Setting Scoliosis Straight; consultancy for DePuy Spine; grants from OREF, DePuy Spine; patents from DePuy Spine; royalties from DePuy Spine; stock/stock options from Globus Medical); BSR (board membership with SRS; royalties from Elsevier; stock/stock options from Pfizer; travel/accommodations/meeting expenses from ACRS); MAE (none); JBE (consultancy for Synthes Spine, Medtronic; royalties from Synthes Spine); SLW (board membership with JBJS; grant from NIH ; royalties from Wolters Kluewer); MIMO Study Group (grant from Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation).
Keywords
- Anchor point
- Curve correction
- Implant
- Scoliosis
- Screw