Pre- and postoperative sagittal alignment in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

The goal of the surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) should be a stable construct that protects the deformity correction in all sagittal, coronal and axial planes until achieving the solid fusion. A balanced posture is needed to minimize the energy expenditure during the mobilization of the patient, which diminishes when the pelvis and the spine are misaligned. Considerable number studies have been undertaken to understand the normal anatomy of the global sagittal alignment of which the sound knowledge is one of the key points when evaluating the patients and deciding to surgery. Moreover, numerous studies have shown that the appropriate correction of the scoliotic deformity is substantial with minimal loss of correction at mid and long-term follow-ups that results in significant improvement in the quality of life for the patient and maintaining the satisfaction of both the patient and parents, which entails correcting the deformity in all three planes. Therefore, in addition to the coronal balance, the sagittal alignment of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine and the spinopelvic sagittal parameters should be carefully assessed in patients with AIS undergoing surgery. © 2018 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.