Ponte Osteotomy in Pediatric Spine Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Spine surgery
• Orthopedics
• Surgical techniques

Background:

• The Ponte osteotomy, introduced in the late 1980s, is a surgical technique used in spine surgery.
• It addresses spinal deformities such as kyphosis and kyphoscoliosis.
• The procedure involves shortening the posterior spinal column to increase corrective power.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Ponte osteotomy technique.
• To explain its application in managing spinal deformities.
• To highlight its benefits for deformity correction and instrumentation.

Main Methods:

• A posterior midline incision is made to access the surgical site.
• Bone removal includes the spinous process, lamina, and spinal facet joints.
• Excision of the inferior and superior facets, along with the ligamentum flavum, is performed.

Main Results:

• Alters the mechanical axis of rotation in the spine.
• Enables greater potential for spinal deformity correction.
• Facilitates the placement of spinal instrumentation without complications.

Conclusions:

• The Ponte osteotomy is an effective method for managing kyphosis and kyphoscoliosis.
• Proper execution allows for significant deformity correction.
• It provides a stable foundation for spinal instrumentation.