Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity
Published on: September 16, 2022
Predicting Kyphosis Correction During Posterior-Only Vertebral Column Resection by the Amount of Spinal Column
Woojin Cho1, Lawrence G Lenke2, Kathy M Blanke2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Study Design:
Retrospective.
Objective:
To investigate the relationship between the amount of correction achieved (K°) and extent of vertebral column shortening (mm) with posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR).
Summary Of Background Data:
There is no scientific reference to the correlation between K° and column shortening (mm) with PVCR.
Methods:
Based on simple geometry, we tested the hypothesis that we could predict the amount of actual kyphosis correction (K°) by calculation on 26 kyphotic PVCR patients. Using multiple linear measurements (mm), two angular approximations (°) were calculated: the geometric approximation (G°) using the geometric calculation (G-cal), and the rough approximation (R°) by more simplistic calculation (R-cal). Both G° and R° were compared against K° as measured on the pre- and postoperative radiographs. If calculated G° and R° is close to measured K°, we can use the calculations (G-cal and R-cal) in the clinical situation.
Results:
The mean correction of K° was 38°. K°-G° and K°-R° were not significantly greater than 3° and 6°, respectively. As K° was very close to G° and R°, K° can replace G° and R°. Therefore, we can use G-cal and R-cal in the clinical setting and we can determine how much posterior shortening and what cage size is required to obtain a certain amount of K°.
Conclusions:
With two calculations (G-cal & R-cal), we can determine how much vertebral column shortening (mm) we need during PVCR to obtain the amount of kyphosis correction desired (K°). In order to obtain K°, using the formula deduced from G-cal and R-cal, we can determine the shortening between the upper and lower pedicle screws and cage size.
