Study design: A retrospective, comparative study.
Objective: To determine the radiological behavior of the lumbar curve in selective fusions in premenarchal girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (Lenke 1 B/C).
Methods: A retrospective, comparative study was conducted. Selective fusion was performed in 21 patients younger than 18 years. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A, after menarche (n = 12) and group B, before menarche (n = 9). Angles (preoperative, and at 1 and 2 years postoperatively) of the fused thoracic curves and the corresponding lumbar curves were measured and compared. For statistical analysis, the t test was used with a significance level of P < .05.
Results: Mean preoperative angle value of the proximal/main thoracic curve was 61° in group A and 57° in group B (P = .44), and 21° and 20°, respectively, in the first year postoperatively (P = .61). Mean preoperative angle value of the lumbar curve was 43° in group A and 42° in group B (P = .87), while at 1 year after surgery, this curve was 19° in both groups (P = 0.91), and at 2 years postoperatively, the curve was 16° in group A and 17° in group B (P = .75).
Conclusions: Over a 2-year follow-up, we did not find significant radiological differences in lumbar curves between patients who underwent surgery before and after menarche.
Keywords: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; lumbar curve; menarche.