Journal of children's orthopaedics
-
Posterior only approaches for spinal deformity are increasingly popular and posterior spinal release is utilized to gain flexibility for correctional maneuvers. Prior biomechanical data support the use of facetectomy and rib head resection for gaining flexibility in the sagittal and coronal planes but to date there has been no quantification of stiffness reduction provided by these techniques for axial correction through a pedicle screw construct. We sought to determine the contribution of posterior spinal releases (facetectomy, rib head resection) on axial plane stiffness. ⋯ Complete facetectomies (Ponte or Smith-Petersen osteotomies) decrease the force required to rotate spinal segments with respect to the axial plane by approximately one-fifth. Posterior rib head resection should be considered to further loosen the spine if additional axial correction is desired.