We used the Perdriolle method to measure the rotation of each vertebra
from the seventh cervical to the fifth lumbar level, before and after
posterior spinal arthrodesis and Harrington-Luque instrumentation in
fifteen patients who had idiopathic scoliosis. The primary curve was
corrected an average of 50 per cent and the secondary curve, an average of
73 per cent. Following the operation, the average number of vertebrae
involved in the primary curve increased from seven (range, five to ten) to
nine (range, seven to fifteen). The rotation of the apical vertebra of the
primary curve increased 10 degrees in four patients and 5 degrees in two
patients and decreased 5 degrees in one patient. The rotation of the apical
vertebra of the secondary curve increased 10 degrees in three patients and
5 degrees in one patient and decreased 5 degrees in four patients. In seven
patients, correction of the curve was associated with unexpected
counter-rotation, beyond the levels of instrumentation, of three or more
vertebral segments that had been in neutral position before the
operation.