Background:

The importance of sagittal profile in idiopathic scoliosis is weii knovvn. VZe know that kyphosis rhay be present in junctional areas, usually between T12-L1. Distraction forces create or increase junctional kyphosis when instrumentation is ended at T12-L1. That is, one should eithsr by-pass the junctionalzone ormodify the hook pattern by means of reversing the very caudal hooks.

Aim:

This study evaluated the effect of reverse hook pattern on sagittal profile on upper-thoracolumbar (T 10-T12) and lower thoracolumbar (T 12-L2) region.

Material and Method:

We have identified 31 patients where hooks ended between T11 and L2. (Table 1). Of the 29 cases included in the study, there were 16 females and 13 maies, their average age was 15.5 ±2.11 years. Sagittal profiles of 18 patients where we used classic hook pattern (distraction on concave side) revealed an average of 7° vvorsening of kyphosis. On the contrary, in 11 patients, where we used a reversed hook pattern (hooks placed in the direction of compression on concave side rod), sagittal profile on T12 - L2 segment pre-served or increased the lordotic nature of that segment.

Conclusion:

Though our reversed hook pattern group is not big enough as the classic hook pattern group, we could say that reversed hook pattern should be used if the instrumentation is going to be ended at T12-L2 segment.

Keywords: Hook pattern, Sagittal Profile, İdiopathic Scoliosis