[Surgical treatment of degenerative scoliosis]

To investigate the techniques and indications of treatment of degenerative scoliosis.

The clinical data of 45 degenerative scoliosis patients, 18 males and 27 females, aged 41 - 77, all suffering from severe low back pain, were analyzed. Twenty of them underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion with pedicle screws combined with correction of scoliosis. Sixteen patients underwent depression of vertebral canal and pure internal fixation and fusion of pedicle. Eight patients underwent pure depression, such as laminectomy or incision of intervertebral foramen. The corrective effects of scoliosis, condition of intervertebral fusion, and complications were observed.

All operations were performed successfully and all the patients made a remarkable recovery. During the 13 months' follow-up, 88% of the patients showed remarkable relief from pain and claudication and improved life quality. No loss in correction angle and height of disc space was found among the patients who had undergone internal fixation and interbody fusion. The residual symptom of low back pain was more manifest in the patients who had not undergone internal fixation than in those who had.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with pedicle screws is safe and effective in the treatment of severe degenerative scoliosis.