Videothoracoscopic approach to the spine in idiopathic scoliosis

Surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis has classically included posterior, anterior, or combined open surgical techniques. In recent years, a videothoracoscopic approach to the spine has been increasingly employed either in combination with the posterior open approach or as a stand-alone treatment including anterior release and fusion. Proponents of videothoracoscopic approaches believe that they allow clinical outcomes comparable to those of open surgery with minimized surgical trauma and postoperative pain, superior cosmetic effects, and less impairment of respiratory function. Periodic technological refinements continue to be proposed and are likely to render these surgical options simpler, safer, and more effective. This article reports on the current state of the art of the videothoracoscopic approaches most commonly employed for the surgical treatment of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis.