Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
Three-dimensional Navigation-guided, Prone, Single-position, Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Technique
Published on: July 15, 2021
Lumbosacral arthrodesis for neuromuscular scoliosis using a simplified Jackson technique
J-B Néron1, F Gadéa, J Fournier
1Université François-Rabelais, Hôpital régional universitaire de Tours, Tours, France.
Unlabelled:
Treating patients with severe neuromuscular scoliosis by long spinal fusion improves their quality of life and provides significant comfort for the patient and caregivers. But lumbosacral (L5-S1) fusion is challenging in these patients because of the significant deformities that result in poor bone anchoring quality and a risk of impingement between the skin and implants. In 1993, Jackson described a L5-S1 fusion technique using S1 pedicle screws and intrasacral rods (implanted under X-ray guidance) that are linked to the construct above with connectors. The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results and the postoperative complications of a simplified version of this technique, which does not require connectors or X-ray guidance.
Materials And Methods:
Thirty-three patients were evaluated with a minimum follow-up of 4years (average 82months). Frontal balance, sagittal balance, Cobb angle, sacral slope, lumbar lordosis and lateral pelvic tilt in the frontal plane were assessed on preoperative, postoperative and follow-up X-rays. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.
Results:
Complete fusion was obtained in 32 patients. The average Cobb angle was 62° initially and was reduced to 20° after surgery and 24° at the final follow-up. The average lateral pelvic tilt was 10.3° (0 to 26°) initially; it was surgically corrected to an average of 7.5° (0 to 24°); the average secondary loss of correction was 1.2° (0 to 9°). The sacral slope was corrected to an average of 11.2°; an average of 0.2° had been lost at the last follow-up (0 to 18°). Although the average for lumbar lordosis was unchanged, the standard deviation went from 29° to 16° after the corrective surgery and 17° at the last follow-up, with large cluster of measurements around the average value of 40°. The deformity correction was comparable to the results with other techniques (Galveston, sacroiliac screws); the complication rate was similar but the non-union rate was lower. This simplified Jackson technique appears to be an effective, simple method for L5-S1 fusion to correct neuromuscular scoliosis as it provides stable results over time.
Level Of Evidence:
Level IV, retrospective study.
