Unilateral Bar - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

- Discussion:
- unilateral bar is a common disorder and is likely to progress;
- it is caused by failure of segmentation of posterior elements of two or more vertebrae on one side;
- this anomaly carries a predictable poor prognosis & therefore a patient w/ this anomaly should undergo an immediate fusion;
- becuase this deformity is relentlessly progressive, stabilization of spine by posterior in situ fusion is performed;

- Treatment:
- fused area should incorporate entire bar and extend one mobile level above and below the bar;