Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for the treatment of severe scoliosis

In a multicentric study, 36 cases (40 curves) of severe scoliosis were analysed; 19 were idiopathic and 17 neurological, Cobb angles ranged from 70 degrees to 145 degrees, all had undergone three-rod Cotrel-Dubousset (CD) instrumentation. The correction on the frontal plane achieved more than 50% of the preoperative angle (53.9% for idiopathic curves and 55.6% for neurological ones). On the sagittal plane the pathological shape of the spine was reduced and distinctly ameliorated. In ten patients, the authors successfully applied a technique, alternative to the original one, which was based on the use of two or three screws in the lumbar area, one supplementary pedicle transverse claw on the cranial area and two rods connected by a domino, instead of a single rod (the longer one applied on the concave side). The main complications were: one case of infection, three of vascular compression of the duodenum, one of crank-shaft phenomenon and one laminar hook displacement. The excellent result achieved in both, idiopathic and neurological severe and stiff scoliosis shows the efficacy, reliability and versatility of CD three-rod instrumentation.