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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2011; 15(2): 143-150
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1275597
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Imaging in Adult Scoliosis: Preoperative Assessment and Postoperative Complications

Jason M. Yeo1 , 3 , Alexandra Talia Vertinsky1 , 3 , Jason B. Chew1 , 3 , Manraj K.S. Heran1 , 3 , Jason Shewchuk1 , 3 , David Malfair4 , Douglas A. Graeb1 , 3 , John T. Street2 , 3
  • 1Division of Neuroradiology, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • 2Division of Spine Surgery, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • 3University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • 4Department of Radiology, Central Alberta Medical Imaging Services, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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Publication History

Publication Date:
15 April 2011 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Adult scoliosis rates range from 2 to 32%. Surgery for scoliosis is common. Accurate and surgically relevant information should be provided to the referring surgeon from pre- and postoperative imaging. There are various methods to correct scoliosis surgically with the end points correction of the curve and relief of symptoms. This is achieved through the placement of spinal instrumentation with a goal of osseous fusion across the instrumented levels. There are many potential postoperative complications. The initial and postoperative imaging, types of surgery, and hardware are reviewed along with the common early and late complications with relevant illustrations.

KEYWORDS

Scoliosis - surgery - complications - radiology

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Alexandra Talia VertinskyM.D. 

Division of Neuroradiology, Vancouver General Hospital

899 West 12th Ave., Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9 Canada

Email: tvertinsky@gmail.com

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