Correction of lumbar coronal plane deformity using unilateral cage placement

Abstract

The authors describe a surgical technique for the correction of symptomatic degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Using a single, unilateral, interbody cage placed on the concave side of the coronal deformity, combined with a dorsal decompression and instrumented posterolateral fusion, this technique has resulted in excellent curve correction, fusion results, and clinical outcomes in a series of 4 patients. Each of these patients presented with intractable, axial low-back pain and symptomatic unilateral nerve root compression on the concave side of a lumbar scoliotic deformity. The management is described in detail.