Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering vs. Posterior Spinal Fusion for Progressive Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis | Episode 2: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Welcome back listeners! In the second episode of The Bonehead Podcast, we break down a study that discusses a novel surgical technique called Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering (AVBT), which is an alternative treatment modality compared to the traditional Posterior Spinal Fusion (PSF) for Progressive Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. This retrospective cohort study titled “Trunk Range of Motion and Patient Outcomes After Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering Versus Posterior Spinal Fusion” was published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery in September 2022. Here, we discuss the paper’s key findings and discourse about the benefits and shortcomings of this recently FDA approved surgery. As always, we conclude the episode with educational points, this time covering selection bias, cohort study designs, and the impact of research findings on patients’ quality of life.