The Clinical Significance of the Lowest Instrumented Vertebra in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2024 Sep 15;32(18):e889-e898. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-24-00152. Epub 2024 May 14.

Abstract

Selecting the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) in fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is potentially the most nuanced decision a surgeon has to make. This article reviews the literature on the range-of-motion loss related to the LIV, ability to return to sports based on LIV, correlation between LIV and disk degeneration, and short-term and long-term clinical outcomes related to LIV.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Clinical Relevance
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / diagnostic imaging
  • Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / surgery
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Return to Sport
  • Scoliosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Scoliosis* / surgery
  • Spinal Fusion* / instrumentation
  • Spinal Fusion* / methods
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome