Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40483668›Full record

ArticleSpine deformity2025

Multicenter validation of a surgical planning tool for lumbar vertebral body tethering simulating growth modulation over 2 years.

Nikita Cobetto, Marie-Ève Fecteau, Christiane Caouette, Marine Gay, A Noelle Larson, Dan Hoernschemeyer, Melanie Boeyer, Ron El-Hawary, Ahmet Alanay, Carl-Eric Aubin

Abstract readValidation StudyMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Spine deformity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Nikita CobettoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Downtown Station, Polytechnique Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Marie-Ève FecteauDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Downtown Station, Polytechnique Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Christiane CaouetteDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Downtown Station, Polytechnique Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Marine GayDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Downtown Station, Polytechnique Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Montreal, QC, Canada.
A Noelle LarsonDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Dan HoernschemeyerDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
Melanie BoeyerDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
Ron El-HawaryBoston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Ahmet AlanayDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
Carl-Eric AubinDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Downtown Station, Polytechnique Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Montreal, QC, Canada. carl-eric.aubin@polymtl.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2374-008X

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant RGPIN-2023-04372Scoliosis Research Society SRS-ZimVie Standard Investigator Grant 980785
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeVertebral body tethering (VBT) for lumbar curves may have wider application than for thoracic curves due to greater growth potential than thoracic spine and benefits of preserved flexibility. Predicting long-term correction remains challenging, with high revision rates and complications (14-32%) including under-/over-correction, tether breakage, adding-on. This study aimed to validate a planning tool for lumbar VBT using a patient-specific finite element model (FEM) integrating mechanobiological growth modulation as a function of preoperative skeletal maturity.

methodsThirty-five retrospective idiopathic scoliosis patients who underwent lumbar VBT, with or without concomitant thoracic VBT, were included. A personalized FEM calibrated to preoperative spine deformity, flexibility and weight was created using 3D radiographic reconstructions. The FEM was linked to an algorithm integrating spine growth and mechanobiological growth modulation, calibrated using preoperative Sanders score. VBT surgery was simulated to replicate immediate postoperative correction and predict two-year correction. Simulated Cobb angles, sagittal curves, and apical axial rotation were compared to actual two-year radiographic measurements.

resultsPreoperative Cobb angles averaged 37 ± 12° (thoracic) and 48 ± 9° (thoraco-lumbar/lumbar). Immediate postoperative correction was 38 ± 15% and 59 ± 16%, with two-year corrections of 44 ± 24% and 73 ± 21%, respectively. Simulated postoperative correction was accurate within 3° (Cobb angles), while simulated 2-year outcomes were accurate within 3° (Cobb), 2° (kyphosis), 4° (lordosis), and 3° (axial rotation), showing no significant differences from reference results (p < 0.05; statistical power 90%).

conclusionThe patient-specific FEM and growth modulation algorithm accurately predicted two-year correction. This tool can support preoperative planning, reduce surgeon variability, and potentially improve VBT outcomes by providing a predictive tool to help surgical planning.

Indexed as

Lumbar VertebraeScoliosisVertebral BodyAdolescentChildFemaleFinite Element AnalysisHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesThoracic VertebraeBiomechanicsFinite element modelingGrowth modulationIdiopathic scoliosisVertebral body tethering

Identifiers

PMID40483668

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.