Our retrospective study compared vitamin-D levels in 229 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and 389 age-matched controls, and evaluated the correlation between vitamin-D levels and sex, Cobb’s angle, and serum levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase in the AIS group. Vitamin-D levels were lower in the AIS group, with no sex-specific effects, indicative of a possible vitamin-D resistance in AIS. Vitamin-D levels correlated positively with Ca levels and negatively with Cobb’s angle, indicative of a possible role of vitamin D in the etiopathogenesis of AIS. Patients with AIS should be monitored for vitamin-D deficiency/insufficiency.

Retrospective study. To identify the incidence of congenital cardiac abnormalities in patients who had scoliosis and underwent surgical treatment for scoliosis. Congenital and idiopathic scoliosis (IS) are associated with cardiac abnormalities. We sought to establish and compare the incidence of congenital cardiac abnormalities in patients with idiopathic and congenital scoliosis (CS) who underwent surgical treatment for scoliosis. Ninety consecutive scoliosis patients, who underwent surgical correction of scoliosis, were classified as CS (55 patients, 28 female [51%]) and IS (35 patients, 21 female [60%]). The complete data of the patients, including medical records, plain radiograph and transthoracic echocardiography were retrospectively assessed. We found that mitral valve prolapse was the most common cardiac abnormality in both patients with IS (nine patients, 26%) and CS (13 patients, 24%). Other congenital cardiac abnormalities were atrial septal aneurysm (23% of IS patients, 18% of CS patients), pulmonary insufficiency (20% of IS patients, 4% of CS patients), aortic insufficiency (17% of IS patients), atrial septal defect (11% of IS patients, 13% of CS patients), patent foramen ovale (15% of CS patients), dextrocardia (4% of CS patients), bicuspid aortic valve (3% of IS patients), aortic stenosis (2% of CS patients), ventricular septal defect (2% of CS patients), and cardiomyopathy (2% of CS patients). We determined the increased incidence of congenital cardiac abnormalities among patients with congenital and IS. Mitral valve prolapse appeared to be the most prevalent congenital cardiac abnormality in both groups.

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications, efficacy and safety of posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) in severe angular kyphosis (SAK) greater than 100°. Methods The medical records of 17 patients (mean age 17.9 (range, 9–27) years) with SAK who underwent PVCR, were reviewed. Mean follow-up period was 32.2 (range, 24–64) months. Diagnosis of the patients included congenital kyphosis in 11 patients, post-tuberculosis kyphosis in 3 patients and neurofibromatosis in 3 patients. The sagittal plane parameters (local kyphosis angle, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, pelvic tilt, sacral slope and pelvic incidence) were measured in the preoperative and the early postoperative periods and during the last follow-up on the lateral radiographs. Results The mean preoperative localized kyphosis angle was 121.8° (range, 101°–149°). The mean local kyphosis angle (LKA) was 71.5° at postoperatively evaluation (p < 0.05). Complications were detected in 12 patients (70.6%) with spinal shock in 4 patients, hemothorax in 3 patients, postoperative infection in 2 patients, dural laceration in 2 patients, neurological deficit in 2 patients (1 paraplegia and 1 root injury), the shifted cage in 2 patients and rod fracture in 2 patients. Neurological events occurred in six patients (35%) with temporary neurological deficit in 5 patients and permanent neurological deficit in 1 patient. Conclusion PVCR is an efficient and a successful technique for the correction of SAK. However, it can lead to a large number of major complications in SAK greater than 100°. Level of evidence Level IV, therapeutic study. ER - Keywords Posterior vertebral column resection Severe angular kyphosis Complication Neurological deficit Neuromonitoring