Figure 4

Selected case examples of patients who underwent spinal fusion surgery for curvatures between 50 and 60 degrees (upper panels, A-D). As shown in the examples in the lower panels (F-I), a ribhump may remain visible despite surgical correction. The patient in panel E was operated for a curve of 32 degrees thoracic and 28 degrees lumbar and had a progression of the thoracic curve to more than 50 degrees after operation. As all of the patients on this picture are still young, a further clinical (and radiological) deterioration may be expected.