This article reviews the results of arıterior-posterior convex hemiepiphysiodesis applied to 7 cases of con-genital scoliosis between 1990 and 1993.
Criteria for patient selection include bone age below 5 years, Cobb angle in the frontal plane less than 70° and number of vertebrae involved less than 8. For each patient, the grovvth potential on the side of the con-cavity was evaluated with conventional tomography. No anomalies with the potential to prevent grovvth on the concave side were detected, except for one case with an unsegmented bar. The procedure was performed in one session in ali cases but one. External immobilization with Risser type cast appiication was used postoper-ativeiy lor six months, follovved by Milvvaukee braces for another 6 months.
Mean age of the patient group vvas 2.9 (1-5 years) years and mean follow-up period 21.6 months (12-34 months).
The mean Cobb angle decreased from 46° (28°+62°) postoperatively. The patient with unsegmented bar on the side of the concavity did not present any change.
Our results show that spontaneus correction can be achieved with anterior-posterior convex hemiepiphysiodesis in patients with congenital scoliosis.
Keywords: Congenital scoliosis, anterior-posterior konveks hemiepiphysiodesis.