The effect of Luque-rod instrumentation on the sagittal contour of the lumbosacral spine in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and the preservation of a physiologic lumbar lordosis.

The changes in the sagittal alignment of the lumbar spine were investigated in 28 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing long posterior spinal fusion to L4 or L5 with contoured Luque rods and segmental sublaminar wiring. The lumbar lordosis over the instrumented levels was preserved, and there was no compensatory hyperlordosis of vertebral segments distal to the fusion. In situations where long posterior spinal fusions are indicated, instrumentation with contoured Luque rods and segmental sublaminar wiring can preserve the normal sagittal alignment of the lumbosacral spine.