Objective To evaluate the operative technique and preliminary results of video-assisted thoracoscopic anterior correction and fusion of scoliosis. Methods Eleven cases underwent thoracoscopic anterior correction and fusion of scoliosis from March 2003 to April 2005 in our hospital were reviewed. They were all females with an average age of 13.1 years old. Of which, 9 cases were idiopathic scoliosis, 1 case was congenital scoliosis, and 1 case was Marfan syndrome scoliosis. The coronal Cobb angle and apical vertebral translation before and after surgery as well as at final follow-up were measured. The operation time, blood loss during operation, and peri-operative complications were recorded. Results The mean operation time was 6.4 hours, mean instrumented vertebrae were 6.4 segments, and mean blood loss during operation was 364 mL. The coronal Cobb angles of the thoracic curve before and after surgery were 45.5° and 15.4° respectively, with an average correction rate of 65.4%. The lumbar curve was corrected from 28.4° to 11.8°, with an average simultaneous correction rate of 57.2%. All of the patients were followed up regularly with an average time of 21.4 months. At the final follow-up, the coronal Cobb angles of the thoracic and lumbar curves were 19.0° and 20.1°, with a 3.6° and 8.3° loss of correction, respectively. The apical vertebral translation was improved from 32.3 mm to 10.5 mm for the thoracic curve, and from 13.1 mm to 8.2 mm for the lumbar curve. There were 6 cases with peri-operative complications, including 1 case of thoracic effusion, 1 case of chylothorax, 1 case of locking plug loosing, 2 cases of aggravation of the unfused lumbar curve (1 case also with thoracolumbar kyphosis), and 1 case with a screw tip causing a contour deformity of the aorta. And 4 of them underwent revision surgery. Conclusions Video-assisted thoracoscopic anterior correction and fusion of scoliosis has good correction capability, less intraoperative bleeding, and favorable cosmetic effect for mild and moderate thoracic scoliosis, but with higher rates of correction loss of the lumbar curve and peri-operative complications. A surgeon should be cautious to perform this technique.
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