Cantilever method for severe kyphotic deformity correction in spondylitis tuberculosis: A technical note and literature review

BACKGROUND: The kyphotic deformity is more than just a cosmetic disfigurement. It is potentially life-threatening and disturbs the quality of life by causing cardiopulmonary dysfunction, spinal imbalance, and other associated problems. Corrective surgery is challenging but it is needed to bring the spinal balance back thus halting the progressiveness of the deformity. The cantilever technique is a gold standard to correct the sagittal plane deformity. METHODS: This is a review article with some case illustrations from Author's experience. OBJECTIVE: We aim to review the cantilever technique for kyphotic correction in spondylitis tuberculosis patients. CONCLUSION: The cantilever technique is the standard for sagittal plane deformity correction that can be applied for kyphotic deformity correction in spondylitis tuberculosis cases. Developing the safest techniques and instrumentation is crucial to achieving spinal balance with minimal risk of morbidities.