Surgical and clinical results of scoliosis surgery using Zielke instrumentation.

All patients with idiopathic thoracolumbar or lumbar scoliosis treated by a single surgeon with a single-stage fusion with Zielke instrumentation and a minimum 2-year follow-up were reviewed. Thirty-two patients were reviewed (94% follow-up), 13 adolescents and 19 adults. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically, as well as psychosocially. There were no major complications. The average curve correction was 73%. The instrumentation was kyphogenic, but this did not affect the overall sagittal contour or the clinical results. Back pain was significantly improved, as was cosmesis. The Zielke device was found to be an effective device for the correction of thoracolumbar and lumbar curves in selected adolescents and adults.