Radiographic outcome after vertebral body tethering of the lumbar spine

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple studies have analyzed the outcome after thoracic Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT). The results seem reproducible with most studies reporting coronal correction rates around 50% and a tether breakage rate near 20% at two years follow-up. There is a paucity of data on lumbar VBT, and no study has yet analyzed the radiographic outcome after lumbar VBT in a double tether technique at two years follow-up, which was the aim of this study. Methods: This is a retrospective, single surgeons’ data analysis of all consecutive immature patients who have had VBT of the lumbar spine (to L3 or L4) between January 2019 and September 2020. Primary interest focused on coronal curve correction at two years post-operatively. Suspected tether breakages were analyzed separately and defined as an angular change of more than 5° between two adjacent screws. Results: Forty-one patients were eligible for this study and 35 (85%) had complete two-year follow-up data. Average age at surgery was 14.3 years. All patients had a Sanders stage of 7 or below. Average curve correction for thoracolumbar/lumbar curves at two years follow-up was 50%. 90% of patients had at least one level with a suspected tether breakage. No patient required a revision surgery within two years from surgery but two patients were surgically revised after two years. Conclusion: VBT in the lumbar spine resulted in 50% coronal curve correction two years post-operatively despite a tether breakage in 90% of patients.