Advantages of anterior vertebral body tethering (VBT) in the surgical treatment of juvenile idiopathic scoliosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62305/biosana.v5i3.620Keywords:
idiopathic scoliosis; anterior vertebral body tethering; vertebral body fixation.Abstract
Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis is one of the most common spinal deformities in adolescents, where traditional surgical treatment—spinal fusion—limits both growth and mobility. Anterior vertebral body tethering (VBT) has emerged as an innovative alternative that allows curvature correction while preserving vertebral development and function. This study aims to identify the benefits of VBT through a literature review using meta-search engines such as Epistemonikos and TripDatabase, including English and Spanish articles published between 2020 and 2024. Findings show that VBT achieves effective Cobb angle correction, with an average improvement of 24.9° in thoracic curves and preservation of motion (7° coronal and 21° sagittal at one-year follow-up). The technique employs a minimally invasive anterior thoracoscopic approach, resulting in an average blood loss of 180 mL and hospital stays of 3 to 5 days. Complications were reported in 18% of cases, most commonly pneumothorax and tether breakage. The best outcomes were observed in skeletally immature patients (Sanders stages 3–5) with progressive Lenke type 1, 3, or 5 curves ≥40°. VBT represents a promising surgical option that offers curve correction while maintaining spinal growth and mobility, though its success depends on careful timing of the intervention.
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