Scheuermann's Kyphosis: Comparison between the Posterior Approach Associated with Smith-petersen Osteotomy and Combined Anterior-posterior Fusion.

OBJECTIVE Surgical treatment of Scheuermann's kyphosis (SK) remains a subject under discussion. In view of the controversy over the best form of surgical tr otomy. METHODS This was a descriptive case-control study with cross-sectional analysis. Twenty-eight patients, split into two groups conducted at different times, were evaluated. RESULTS The first group comprised patients treated using the double approach, with an average age of 19 years, preoperative kyphosis of 77.6°, postoperative kyphosis of 35.8° and average correction of 53.2%. The second group comprised patients treated using the posterior route associated with Smith-Petersen osteotomy, with a mean age of 27.3 years, preoperative kyphosis of 72.9°, postoperative kyphosis of 44.3° and average correction of 39.3%. Analysis between the two groups showed statistically significant differences in the following variables: age (p = 0.02), postoperative kyphosis (p = 0.04) and degree and percentage of kyphosis correction (p = 0.001). There was no difference concerning preoperative kyphosis (p = 0.33). In the assessment of postoperative pain (VAS), the first group presented an average of 0.6, versus 0.5 in the second group. There were only minor complications: seven in the first group and two in the second. CONCLUSION The two surgical techniques studied proved to be adequate for treating SK. In the present study, the deformity correction was greater in the first group, while the pain VAS results were better in the second group, with lower incidence of complications.