Harrington instrumentation in combination with Luque method versus Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for scoliosis correction

Results of surgical treatment of 60 patients with scoliosis are presented. In 36 patients Harrington instrumentation in combination with Luque method was used for deformity correction, in 24 patients Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation was applied. In 8 patients with extremely severe rigid scoliosis the deformity correction was preceded by thoracotomy with multilevel diskectomy for spine mobilization. In frontal plane no differences was observed in obtained correction independent on the type of instrumentation. In horizontal and sagittal planes correction obtained i was more marked if Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation was applied. In Harrington instrumentation follow up period was 1 year, in Cotrel-dubousset instrumentation follow up ranged from 3 months to 1 year. Scoliotic deformity correction by Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation is showed to be preferable. However taking into account its high cost the use Harrington instrumentation in combination with Luque method may be recommended as alternative method only.