Abstract
The minimally invasive lateral lumbar approach is gaining popularity for treating adult degenerative scoliosis. These patients generally present with chronic back pain, neurological compromise, and spinal deformity in multiple planes. Unfortunately, the traditional open approach for treating these patients has a high morbidity [1, 2]. The lateral lumbar approach can correct adult deformities in both the coronal and sagittal planes with less tissue dissection. These surgeries have been found to have a low complication profile and can provide adequate radiographic correction and improved clinical outcomes for a select patient population [3–16]. Unlike a posterior-only approach, the transpsoas approach requires the surgeon to choose an approach side preoperatively. Most of the studies examining the lateral approach for degenerative scoliosis omit the side of approach relative to the curve apex or approached from either side. Thus, there remains controversy concerning which side, concave versus convex, leads to better corrective ability and reduced complications.