Anterior instrumentation in idiopathic scoliosis: a minimum follow-up of 10 years.

One hundred and thirty-four patients with idiopathic scoliosis were treated between 1973 and 1993 in our hospital, and 53 were followed for a minimum of 10 years in a retrospective study. Forty-five were female and 8 male with an average age of 32 years at follow up. Dwyer instrumentation was used in 17 and Zielke in 36. The curve was thoracic in 16, thoracolumbar in 27 and lumbar in 10. The average preoperative Cobb angle was 64 degrees. The average angle at follow up was 21 degrees with 62% of the average correction maintained (61% in the Dwyer and 65% in the Zielke). Most patients were satisfied subjectively and we recommend this type of operation.