Wisconsin and other instrumentation for posterior spinal fusion.

In idiopathic scoliosis, the Wisconsin system is as safe as a Harrington rod and nearly as strong as a Luque construct. The installation is relatively easy. Sagittal curves can be preserved while correcting the scoliosis by contouring the rods and fixing them to the spine in a segmental fashion. The Wisconsin system is currently the instrumentation of choice at the authors' clinic for routine idiopathic scoliosis. The quest for the ideal spinal instrumentation system will probably never end. Further improvements on the current systems will inevitably appear, and new concepts will be developed. Spine surgeons will continue to be faced with the need to compare the advantages and disadvantages of different systems.