• Ran Ding, Jinqian Liang, Guixing Qiu, Jianxiong Shen, and Zheng Li.
• Department of Orthropaedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy Of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
• J Spinal Disord Tech. 2014 Jul 1;27(5):E155-61.

Study DesignRetrospective case-control study.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess patients' quality of life with different fusion levels in posterior pedicle screw correction of idiopathic scoliosis.Summary Of Background DataNo previous study has demonstrated differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between patients fused to L3 versus L4.Materials And MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on 30 scoliotic patients fused to L3 using complete pedicle screw instruments. Thirty age-matched and sex-matched scoliotic patients fused to L4 were in the control group. Radiologic parameters were assessed before surgery and at latest follow-up between the 2 groups. These 2 groups were compared for the Scoliosis Research Society 22 questionnaire (SRS-22), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires, which were administered preoperatively and at final follow-up.ResultsThere were no significant differences in sex, age, follow-up duration, the distribution of curve patterns, the postoperative residual Cobb angle of the main curve, complications, or surgical method between the L3 and L4 groups (P>0.05). Preoperative scores were statistically similar in the L3 and L4 groups for all domains of all questionnaires. There was no difference between the L3 and L4 groups for ODI (P=0.527) and VAS (P=0.518). There were no significant differences in the scores on function/activity, self-image/appearance, pain, mental health, or satisfaction with treatment domains between the 2 groups. No significant differences between the 2 groups were found at the final follow-up in the SF-36 subscales/domain scores.ConclusionsThis study attempted to elucidate the correlation between the length of fusion and functional outcome; however, it could not identify any difference between different fusion levels. On the basis of short-term results, there were no significant differences in the questionnaire scores between the 2 groups.

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