Reliability of a New Digital Tool for Photographic Analysis in Quantifying Body Asymmetry in Scoliosis.

Background: Advancements in non-ionizing methods for quantifying spinal deformities are crucial for assessing and monitoring scoliosis. In this study, we analyzed the observer variability of a newly developed digital tool for quantifying body asymmetry from clinical photographs. Methods: Prospective observational multicenter study. Initially, a digital tool was developed using image analysis software, calculating quantitative measures of body asymmetry. This tool was integrated into an online platform that exports data to a database. The tool calculated 10 parameters, including angles (shoulder height, axilla height, waist height, right and left waistline angles, and their difference) and surfaces of the left and right hemitrunks (shoulders, waists, pelvises, and total). Subsequently, an online training course on the tool was conducted for twelve observers not involved in its development (six research coordinators and six spine surgeons). Finally, 15 standardized back photographs of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients were selected from a multicenter image bank, representing various clinical scenarios (different age, gender, curve type, BMI, and pre- and postoperative images). The 12 observers measured the photographs at two different times with a three-week interval. For the second round, the images were randomly mixed. Inter- and intra-observer variabilities of the measurements were analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and reliability was measured by the standard error of measurement (SEM). Group comparisons were made using Student's t-test. Results: The mean inter-observer ICC for the ten measurements was 0.981, the mean intra-observer ICC was 0.937, and SEM was 0.3-1.3°. The parameter with the strongest inter- and intra-observer validity was the difference in waistline angles 0.994 and 0.974, respectively, while the highest variability was found with the waist height angle 0.963 and 0.845, respectively. No test-retest differences (p > 0.05) were observed between researchers (0.948 ± 0.04) and surgeons (0.925 ± 0.05). Conclusion: We developed a new digital tool integrated into an online platform demonstrating excellent reliability and inter- and intra-observer variabilities for quantifying body asymmetry in scoliosis patients from a simple clinical photograph. The method could be used for assessing and monitoring scoliosis and body asymmetry without radiation.

Cost Benefit of Implementation of Risk Stratification Models for Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: Assess the extent to which defined risk factors of adverse events are drivers of cost-utility in spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. METHODS: ASD patients with 2-year (2Y) data were included. Tertiles were used to define high degrees of frailty, sagittal deformity, blood loss, and surgical time. Cost was calculated using the Pearl Diver registry and cost-utility at 2Y was compared between cohorts based on the number of risk factors present. Statistically significant differences in cost-utility by number of baseline risk factors were determined using ANOVA, followed by a generalized linear model, adjusting for clinical site and surgeon, to assess the effects of increasing risk score on overall cost-utility. RESULTS: By 2 years, 31% experienced a major complication and 23% underwent reoperation. Patients with ≤2 risk factors had significantly less major complications. Patients with 2 risk factors improved the most from baseline to 2Y in ODI. Average cost increased by $8234 per risk factor (R2 = .981). Cost-per-QALY at 2Y increased by $122,650 per risk factor (R2 = .794). Adjusted generalized linear model demonstrated a significant trend between increasing risk score and increasing cost-utility (r2 = .408, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The number of defined patient-specific and surgical risk factors, especially those with greater than two, were associated with increased index surgical costs and diminished cost-utility. Efforts to optimize patient physiology and minimize surgical risk would likely reduce healthcare expenditures and improve the overall cost-utility profile for ASD interventions.Level of evidence: III.

Sagittal realignment: surgical restoration of the global alignment and proportion score parameters: a subgroup analysis. What are the consequences of failing to realign?

INTRODUCTION: The Global Alignment and Proportion (GAP) score incorporates three domains directly modified with surgery (relative pelvic version-RPV, relative lumbar lordosis-RLL, lumbar distribution index-LDI) and one indirectly restored (relative spinopelvic alignment-RSA). We analyzed our surgical realignment performance and the consequences of domain-specific realignment failure on mechanical complications and PROMs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From an adult spinal deformity prospective multicenter database, we selected patients: fused to pelvis, upper instrumented vertebra at or above L1, and 2 years of follow-up. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analyses were employed. RESULTS: The sample included 333 patients. RLL-6w showed the highest success rate (58.3% aligned), but 16.5% of patients were classified in the "Severe hypolordosis" and "Hyperlordosis" subgroups. RPV-6w was the most challenging to realign, with 51.6% moderate or severe retroversion. Regarding RSA-6w, 21.9% had severe positive malalignment. Correct alignment of RPV-6w (p = 0.025) and RSA-6w (p = 0.002) proved to be protective factors against the development of mechanical complications. Severe pelvic retroversion (p = 0.026) and severe positive malalignment (p = 0.007) were risk factors for mechanical complications. RSA-6w "Severe positive malalignment" was associated with less improvement in PROMs: ∆ODI (8.83 vs 17.2; p = 0.011), ∆SRS-22 total (0.54 vs 0.87; p = 0.007), and ∆SF-36PCS (3.47 vs 7.76; p = 0.04); MCID for ODI (37.0 vs 55.5%; p = 0.023), and SRS-22 (40.8 vs 60.1%; p = 0.015); and PASS for ODI (17.6 vs 31.7%; p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: RPV was the most underperformed modifiable parameter. Severe pelvic retroversion and severe positive malalignment influenced the occurrence of mechanical complications. Severe positive malalignment affected PROMs improvement.

How to Select the Lower Instrumented Vertebra in Traditional Growing Rods Index Surgery.

BACKGROUND: There are still no consensus criteria on how to select the lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) for traditional growing rods (TGRs) at index surgery. The aim was to evaluate whether the criteria used for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis fusion adapts to early onset scoliosis (EOS). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively longitudinal collected data in a consecutive cohort of patients with EOS treated with TGR, expanding from index surgery to 2 years after graduation. The LIV was analyzed regarding its relation to the stable vertebra (SV), substantially touched vertebra (STV), and not STV (NSTV). Failure of LIV selection was considered when revision surgery with distal extension was needed during follow up, due to adding on (ΔLIV tilt > 10°). RESULTS: A total of 25 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 8.6 ± 3 (at index surgery), 15.1 ± 1.8 (at graduation), and 17.8 ± 1.6 (at final follow up). The most frequent LIV at index surgery was L3 (13/25); in 13 cases, STV was selected as LIV; in 7, it was NSTV; and in 5, SV on the standard postero-anterior radiographs. During follow up, a significant increase in the mean LIV tilt (P = .049) and distal junctional angle (P = .017) was found. Nine of the 25 patients (36%) developed adding on: 20% (1/5) of those with LIV at SV, 38.5% (5/13) at STV, and 42.8% (3/7) at NSTV. Of those 9 cases of adding on, only four needed distal extension (mean LIV tilt = 17.6°): 2 STV patients (15.4%), and 2 NSTV patients (28.6%). None of the patients with the LIV chosen at SV needed distal extension due to adding on. CONCLUSIONS: The more cranial the selection of the LIV above the SV, the higher the risk of adding on and of revision surgery with distal extension during follow up. Saving motion segments could be justified by choosing STV as LIV because the need for distal extension is not high, and it can be scheduled during lengthening procedures or at graduation surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Choosing the correct LIV in TGR index surgery is crucial to have a secure distal foundation, control and correct the deformity during growth, and save distal segments to allow growth and mobility.

Variation of Minimum Clinically Important Difference by Age, Gender, Baseline Disability, and Change of Direction in Adult Spinal Deformity Population: Is It a Constant Value?

BACKGROUND: The minimum clinically important difference (MCID), an important concept to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments, might not be a single "magical" constant for any given health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scale. Thus, we analyzed the effects of various factors on MCIDs for several HRQoL measures in an adult spinal deformity population. METHODS: Surgical and nonsurgical patients from a multicenter adult spinal deformity database who had completed pretreatment and 1-year follow-up questionnaires (Core Outcome Measures Index [COMI], Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form questionnaire, 22-item Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes questionnaire, and an anchor question of "back health"-related change during the previous year) were evaluated. The MCIDs for each HRQoL measure were calculated using an anchor-based method and latent class analysis for the overall population and subpopulations stratified by age, gender, and baseline scores (ODI and COMI) separately for patients with positive versus negative perceptions of change. RESULTS: Patients with a baseline ODI score of <20, 20-40, and >40 had an MCID of 2.24, 11.35, and 26.57, respectively. Similarly, patients with a baseline COMI score of <2.75, 2.8-5.4, and >5.4 had an MCID of 0.59, 1.38, and 3.67 respectively. The overall MCID thresholds for deterioration and improvement were 0.27 and 2.62 for COMI, 2.23 and 14.31 for ODI, and 0.01 and 0.71 for 22-item Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes questionnaire, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present study have demonstrated that MCIDs change in accordance with the baseline scores and direction of change but not by age or gender. The MCID, in its current state, should be considered a concept rather than a constant.

Decision Analysis in Quest of the Ideal Treatment in Adult Spinal Deformity Adjusted for Minimum Clinically Important Difference.

BACKGROUND: Surgery appears to yield better results in adult spinal deformity treatment when fixed minimum clinically important difference values are used to define success. Our objective was to analyze utilities and improvement provided by surgical versus nonsurgical treatment at 2 years using Oswestry Disability Index with treatment-specific minimum clinically important difference values. METHODS: From a multicenter database including 1452 patients, 698 with 2 years of follow-up were analyzed. Mean age of patients was 50.95 ± 19.44 years; 580 patients were women, and 118 were men. The surgical group comprised 369 patients, and the nonsurgical group comprised 329 patients. The surgical group was subcategorized into no complications (192 patients), minor complications (97 patients) and major complications (80 patients) groups to analyze the effect of complications on results. Minimum clinically important differences using Oswestry Disability Index were 14.31, 14.96, and 2.48 for overall, surgical, and nonsurgical groups. Utilities were calculated by visual analog scale mapping. RESULTS: Surgical treatment provided higher utility (0.583) than nonsurgical treatment (0.549) that was sensitive to complications, being 0.634, 0.564, and 0.497 in no, minor, and major complications. Probabilities of improvement, unchanged, and deterioration were 38.3%, 39.2%, and 22.5% for surgical treatment and 39.4%, 10.5%, and 50.1% for nonsurgical treatment. Improvement in the surgical group was also sensitive to complications with rates of 40.1%, 39.3%, and 33.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that surgical treatment has less disease burden and less chance of deterioration, but equal chances for improvement at 2 years of follow-up. As it appears to be a better modality in the absence of complications, future efforts need be directed to decreasing the complication rates.

Restoring the ideal Roussouly sagittal profile in adult scoliosis surgery decreases the risk of mechanical complications.

PURPOSE: There are still no data proving whether restoring the ideal sagittal profile (according to Roussouly classification) in adult scoliosis (AS) patients leads to any additional benefit, especially regarding mechanical complications. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of operated AS patients recorded in a prospective multicenter database. Demographic and radiographic (preoperative and 6-week postoperative) data were analyzed. Patients with and without mechanical complications were compared looking especially at the surgical restoration of the ideal (based on Pelvic Incidence) sagittal profile. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify causes of mechanical complications at 2-year minimum follow-up. RESULTS: Ninty-six AS patients were analyzed. Thirty-nine patients suffered a mechanical complication (18 PJK, 11 pseudoarthrosis, 10 screw pull-out), and 57 patients had no mechanical complications. Postoperatively, 72% of patients not matching the ideal Roussouly-type suffered mechanical complications compared to 15% of matched patients (P < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that older patients 64.9 ± 13 versus 40.7 ± 15.6 years (P < 0.001), higher postoperative Global Tilt (27° vs. 14.7°) and Pelvic Tilt (25° vs. 16°) (P < 0.001), upper instrumented vertebra at the thoracolumbar junction (62% vs. 21%) (P < 0.001), fixation to the Iliac (76% vs. 6%) (P < 0.001), and postoperative Roussouly-type mismatch (72% vs. 15%) (P < 0.001) significantly increased the rate of mechanical complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis selected: postoperative Roussouly-type mismatch (OR = 41.9; 95%CI = 5.5-315.7; P < 0.001), iliac instrumentation (OR = 19.4; 95%CI = 2.6-142.5; P = 0.004), and age (OR = 1.1; 95%CI = 1.02-1.16; P = 0.004), as the most important variables. CONCLUSIONS: Adult scoliosis surgery should restore the ideal Roussouly sagittal profile to decrease the rate of mechanical complications, especially in patients older than 65, instrumented to the pelvis. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Impact of resolved early major complications on 2-year follow-up outcome following adult spinal deformity surgery.

PURPOSE: Major complications are a concern following ASD surgery. Even when properly managed and resolved, they may still have a relevant impact on HRQL. We aimed to investigate the impact of resolved early major complications on 2-year outcome after ASD surgery. METHODS: Two groups of consecutive surgical patients were extracted from a prospective multicentre database. Major complication group (MCG) included patients with any major complication, resolved within 6 months after surgery. Patients with further major complications during follow-up were excluded. Control group (CG) included patients with no major complications over the entire follow-up. Analysis of covariance adjusting for preoperative baseline values was used to compare improvements in HRQL measures at 2 years. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-five patients met the inclusion criteria and had complete HRQL data at 2 years (24 MCG, 151 CG). MCG patients were older and had more severe deformity and poorer baseline HRQL. There were 27 resolved major complications at 6 months needing 19 additional surgeries (18 revisions, 1 cholecystectomy). At 2 years, and after adjusting for preoperative data, outcome in MCG patients was as follows: scores were 5.98 (SE 3.03) points higher for the ODI (p = 0.05), 0.36 (SE 0.13) lower SRS-22 function (p = 0.01), 4.07 (SE 1.93) lower SF-36 PCS (p = 0.04), and 0.16 (SE 0.13) lower SRS-22 subtotal (p = 0.22). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that patients experiencing major complications after ASD surgery have significantly less functional improvement (SRS-22 function, ODI, SF-36 PCS) than their complication-free counterparts, even when complications were considered resolved, and the outcome was measured after an 18-month complication-free period. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Development and validation of risk stratification models for adult spinal deformity surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery has a high rate of major complications (MCs). Public information about adverse outcomes is currently limited to registry average estimates. The object of this study was to assess the incidence of adverse events after ASD surgery, and to develop and validate a prognostic tool for the time-to-event risk of MC, hospital readmission (RA), and unplanned reoperation (RO). METHODS: Two models per outcome, created with a random survival forest algorithm, were trained in an 80% random split and tested in the remaining 20%. Two independent prospective multicenter ASD databases, originating from the European continent and the United States, were queried, merged, and analyzed. ASD patients surgically treated by 57 surgeons at 23 sites in 5 countries in the period from 2008 to 2016 were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 1612 ASD patients: mean (standard deviation) age 56.7 (17.4) years, 76.6% women, 10.4 (4.3) fused vertebral levels, 55.1% of patients with pelvic fixation, 2047.9 observation-years. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that 12.1% of patients had at least one MC at 10 days after surgery; 21.5%, at 90 days; and 36%, at 2 years. Discrimination, measured as the concordance statistic, was up to 71.7% (95% CI 68%-75%) in the development sample for the postoperative complications model. Surgical invasiveness, age, magnitude of deformity, and frailty were the strongest predictors of MCs. Individual cumulative risk estimates at 2 years ranged from 3.9% to 74.1% for MCs, from 3.17% to 44.2% for RAs, and from 2.67% to 51.9% for ROs. CONCLUSIONS: The creation of accurate prognostic models for the occurrence and timing of MCs, RAs, and ROs following ASD surgery is possible. The presented variability in patient risk profiles alongside the discrimination and calibration of the models highlights the potential benefits of obtaining time-to-event risk estimates for patients and clinicians.

Factors influencing patient satisfaction after adult scoliosis and spinal deformity surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Achieving high patient satisfaction with management is often one of the goals after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. However, literature on associated factors and their correlations with patient satisfaction is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and radiographic factors independently correlated with patient satisfaction in terms of management at 2 years after surgery. METHODS: A multicenter prospective database of ASD surgery was retrospectively reviewed. The demographics, complications, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) subdomains, and radiographic parameters were examined to determine their correlation coefficients with the Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire (SRS-22R) satisfaction scores at 2 years (Sat-2y score). Subsequently, factors determined to be independently associated with low satisfaction (Sat-2y score ≤ 4.0) were used to construct 2 types of multivariate models: one with 2-year data and the other with improvement (score at 2 years - score at baseline) data. RESULTS: A total of 422 patients who underwent ASD surgery (mean age 53.1 years) were enrolled. All HRQOL subdomains and several coronal and sagittal radiographic parameters had significantly improved 2 years after surgery. The Sat-2y score was strongly correlated with the SRS-22R self-image (SI)/appearance subdomain (r = 0.64), followed by moderate correlation with subdomains related to standing (r = 0.53), body pain (r = 0.49-0.55), and function (r = 0.41-0.55) at 2 years. Conversely, the correlation between radiographic or demographic parameters with Sat-2y score was weak (r < 0.4). Multivariate analysis to eliminate confounding factors revealed that a worse Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score for standing (≥ 2 points; OR 4.48) and pain intensity (≥ 2 points; OR 2.07), SRS-22R SI/appearance subdomain (< 3 points; OR 2.70) at 2 years, and a greater sagittal vertical axis (SVA) (> 5 cm; OR 2.68) at 2 years were independent related factors for low satisfaction. According to the other model, a lower improvement in ODI for standing (< 30%; OR 2.68), SRS-22R pain (< 50%; OR 3.25) and SI/appearance (< 50%; OR 2.18) subdomains, and an inadequate restoration of the SVA from baseline (< 2 cm; OR 3.16) were associated with low satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Self-image, pain, standing difficulty, and sagittal alignment restoration may be useful goals in improving patient satisfaction with management at 2 years after ASD surgery. Surgeons and other medical providers have to take care of these factors to prevent low satisfaction.

Surgical Treatment of Scoliosis Developed After Extended Chest Wall Resection Due to Askin Tumor During Childhood.

STUDY DESIGN: Report of four cases. OBJECTIVE: To describe a series of pediatric patients with surgical scoliosis after chest wall resections due to Askin tumors. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Askin tumors are a rare type of chest wall solid tumors that can develop in children. Treatment involves chemotherapy and extensive surgical resection, including disarticulation of several ribs. This can cause thoracogenic scoliosis, with very scarce data found in the literature regarding its treatment and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive series of four cases of scoliosis in pediatric patients, secondary to extensive chest resections due to Akin's tumors. We analyzed the results of the surgical treatment. RESULTS: Three girls and one boy with a mean age of 8.7 ± 2.2 years and 7 ± 3.6 years of follow-up were included. In all cases, the convexity of the thoracic curvature was toward the area of chest resection, occurring a mean of 1.9±1.3 years after thoracic surgery. A distraction-based system (two vertically expandable prosthetic titanium rib [VEPTR], two traditional growing rods) was used to correct the scoliosis. The preoperative Cobb angle (68.7° ± 22.9°) was corrected to 32.6° ± 9.7° at final follow-up. Preoperative coronal imbalance was 2.95 ± 1.86 cm and was corrected to 0.3 ± 0.6 cm at final follow-up. No changes were observed regarding preoperative kyphosis 30° ± 8.7° (33°±8° final). T1-S1 initial length was 29.65 cm changing to 40.65 cm. T1-T12 height went from 18.25 to 23.67 cm. There was one complication secondary to the proximal anchoring. CONCLUSIONS: For treatment of scoliosis secondary to extensive chest resection in the growing children with Askin tumors, distraction-based growth-friendly treatment is an available surgical option. Seven years of follow-up showed more than 50% improvement of the Cobb angle, and an average thoracic and trunk growth of 5.42 and 11 cm, respectively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Decision Making of Graduation in Patients With Early-Onset Scoliosis at the End of Distraction-Based Programs: Risks and Benefits of Definitive Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative analysis. OBJECTIVE: Study early-onset scoliosis (EOS) graduated patients to establish founded criteria for graduation decision making and determine the risks and benefits of definitive fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: EOS is treated by growth-friendly techniques until skeletal maturity. Afterwards, patients can be "graduated," either by definitive fusion (posterior spinal fusion [PSF]) or by retaining the previous implants (Observation) with no additional surgery. Criteria for this decision making and the outcomes of definitive fusion are still underexplored. METHODS: We analyzed a consecutive cohort of "graduated" patients after a distraction-based lengthening program. We gathered demographic, radiographic, and surgical data. The results of the two final treatment options were compared after 2 years' follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients were included. Four patients had incomplete records. Thirteen underwent PSF, and 15 were observed. The mean age at initial treatment was 8 ± 3 years, with a mean follow-up of 8.3 ± 2.9 years. Both groups had similar preoperative and final radiographic parameters (p > .05). The criteria for undergoing PSF were as follows: implant-related complications, main curve magnitude (PSF = 63.2° ± 9° vs. OBS = 47.9° ± 15°; p = .008), curve progression >10°, and sagittal misalignment (SVA). During PSF 12/13 patients underwent multiple osteotomies, one vertebrectomy, and 3 costoplasties. Surgical time was 291.5 ± 58 minutes; blood loss was 946 ± 375 mL; and the number of levels fused was 13.7. Coronal deformity was corrected 31%, T1-S1 length gained was 31 ± 19.6 mm and T1-T12 length gained was 9.3 ± 39 mm; kyphosis was reduced by 22%. However, coronal balance worsened by 2.3 ± 30.8 mm. No major complications were encountered in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Graduation by PSF depended on unacceptable or progressive major curve deformity, sagittal misalignment, or complications with previous implants. Observation depended on curve stabilization, Cobb <50°, and coronal misalignment <20 mm. Definitive fusion effectively corrected coronal and sagittal deformity and increased trunk height. However, it exposed patients to a very demanding surgery without improvement in coronal balance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic.

External validation of the adult spinal deformity (ASD) frailty index (ASD-FI).

PURPOSE: To assess the ability of the recently developed adult spinal deformity frailty index (ASD-FI) to predict odds of perioperative complications, odds of reoperation, and length of hospital stay after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery using a database other than the one used to create the index. METHODS: We used the ASD-FI to calculate frailty scores for 266 ASD patients who had minimum postoperative follow-up of 2 years in the European Spine Study Group (ESSG) database. Patients were enrolled from 2012 through 2013. Using ASD-FI scores, we categorized patients as not frail (NF) (< 0.3 points), frail (0.3-0.5 points), or severely frail (SF) (> 0.5 points). Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for preoperative and surgical factors such as operative time and blood loss, was performed to determine the relationship between ASD-FI category and odds of major complications, odds of reoperation, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: We categorized 135 patients (51%) as NF, 90 patients (34%) as frail, and 41 patients (15%) as SF. Overall mean ASD-FI score was 0.29 (range 0-0.8). The adjusted odds of experiencing a major intraoperative or postoperative complication (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.0-10) or having a reoperation (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.7-8.9) were higher for SF patients compared with NF patients. Mean hospital stay was 2.1 times longer (95% CI 1.8-2.4) for SF patients compared with NF patients. CONCLUSIONS: Greater patient frailty, as measured by the ASD-FI, is associated with longer hospital stays and greater odds of major complications and reoperation. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Analysis of factors affecting baseline SF-36 Mental Component Summary in Adult Spinal Deformity and its impact on surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the factors that affect SF-36 mental component summary (MCS) in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) at the time of presentation, and to analyse the effect of SF-36 MCS on clinical outcomes in surgically treated patients. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from a multicentric ASD database was analysed for baseline parameters. Then, the same database for surgically treated patients with a minimum of 1-year follow-up was analysed to see the effect of baseline SF-36 MCS on treatment results. A clinically useful SF-36 MCS was determined by ROC Curve analysis. RESULTS: A total of 229 patients with the baseline parameters were analysed. A strong correlation between SF-36 MCS and SRS-22, ODI, gender, and diagnosis were found (p < 0.05). For the second part of the study, a total of 186 surgically treated patients were analysed. Only for SF-36 PCS, the un-improved cohort based on minimum clinically important differences had significantly lower mean baseline SF-36 MCS (p < 0.001). SF-36 MCS was found to have an odds ratio of 0.914 in improving SF-36 PCS score (unit by unit) (p < 0.001). A cut-off point of 43.97 for SF-36 MCS was found to be predictive of SF-36 PCS (AUC = 0.631; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The factors effective on the baseline SF-36 MCS in an ASD population are other HRQOL parameters such as SRS-22 and ODI as well as the baseline thoracic kyphosis and gender. This study has also demonstrated that baseline SF-36 MCS does not necessarily have any effect on the treatment results by surgery as assessed by SRS-22 or ODI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, prognostic study.

Impact of Iliac Instrumentation on the Quality of Life of Patients With Adult Spine Deformity.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative analysis of data collected prospectively in an adult spine deformity (ASD) multicenter database. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the iliac screws on the quality of life of ASD patients compared with those instrumented above the pelvis (L5/S1/S2). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The impact on patient's daily activities and functions, of immobilizing the sacroiliac joint with iliac screws for the treatment of ASD is still underexplored. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were ASD patients with a long arthrodesis of at least eight levels and whose lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV) were L5 or below. We analyzed the following preoperative and 2 years' follow-up variables: age, Cobb angle, coronal and sagittal alignment, number of instrumented levels, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI), Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22), and Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed with Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients were included, and separated into two groups: "Iliac Yes," with the LIV at the Ilium (N = 104), and "iliac No," with the LIV at L5/S1/S2 (N = 25). Patients instrumented with Iliac screws were older (x = 66 vs. 56 yr, P = 0.008), and had lower Cobb magnitude (x = 31° vs. 45°, P = 0.019). No statistically significant differences were found in the health related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires prior to surgery or at 2-years' follow up. The "Iliac Yes" group significantly improved all radiographic and HRQOL scores parameters 2 years after surgery (P < 0.005). While the "Iliac No" group failed to significantly improve (coronal balance, sagittal vertical axis, SF-36 Physical functioning, SF-36 General health, and COMI) (P > 0.05) CONCLUSION.: ASD patients instrumented with iliac screws significantly improved all their HRQOL questionnaires 2 years after surgery. The 2 years' postoperative HRQOL scores were similar in both groups, regardless of the sacroiliac joint immobilization. Therefore, with the currently available tools, we cannot state that iliac instrumentation has a negative influence on patient's quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Impact of early unanticipated revision surgery on health-related quality of life after adult spinal deformity surgery.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Revision surgery represents a major event for patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. Previous reports suggest that ASD surgery has minimal or no impact on health-related-quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes. PURPOSE: The present study aims to investigate the impact of early reoperations within the first year on HRQOL and on the likelihood of reaching the minimally clinically important difference (MCID) after ASD surgery. DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from consecutive surgically treated adult deformity surgery patients included in a multicenter, international database. PATIENT SAMPLE: The present study included 280 patients from a multicenter international prospective database. OUTCOME MEASURE: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form-36 (SF-36), Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22), MCID were evaluated in this work. METHODS: Consecutive surgical patients with ASD recruited prospectively in six different centers from four countries with a minimum 2-year follow-up were stratified into two groups: R (revision surgery within the first year) and NR (no revision). Health-related-quality of life (ODI, SF-36, SRS-22) was assessed and compared at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up stages. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, Student t tests, and linear mixed models. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (R Group) received 46 revision surgeries. Nineteen patients (41.3%) had implant-related complications, 9 patients (19.6%) had deep surgical site infections, 9 patients (19.6%) had proximal junctional kyphosis, 3 patients (6.5%) had hematoma, and 6 patients (13%) had other complications. Baseline characteristics differed between groups. At 6 months, all HRQOL scores improved in both groups, except in the SF-36 Mental Component Summary and SRS-22 mental health domain in the R Group. At 1 year, ODI and SRS-22 improvement was significantly greater in the NR Group, exceeding the reported MCID. At the 2-year follow-up, ODI, SRS-22, SF-36 MCS, and SF-36 PCS improvement was similar in both groups. However, postoperative change was only above the MCID for SF-36 PCS, ODI, and SRS-22 in the NR Group. CONCLUSIONS: Early unanticipated revision surgery has a negative impact on mental health at 6 months and reduces the chances of reaching an MCID improvement in SRS-22, SF-36 PCS, and ODI at the 2-year follow-up.

Relative lumbar lordosis and lordosis distribution index: individualized pelvic incidence-based proportional parameters that quantify lumbar lordosis more precisely than the concept of pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis.

OBJECTIVE The subtraction of lumbar lordosis (LL) from the pelvic incidence (PI) offers an estimate of the LL required for a given PI value. Relative LL (RLL) and the lordosis distribution index (LDI) are PI-based individualized measures. RLL quantifies the magnitude of lordosis relative to the ideal lordosis as defined by the magnitude of PI. LDI defines the magnitude of lower arc lordosis in proportion to total lordosis. The aim of this study was to compare RLL and PI - LL for their ability to predict postoperative complications and their correlations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores. METHODS Inclusion criteria were ≥ 4 levels of fusion and ≥ 2 years of follow-up. Mechanical complications were proximal junctional kyphosis/proximal junctional failure, distal junctional kyphosis/distal junctional failure, rod breakage, and implant-related complications. Correlations between PI - LL, RLL, PI, and HRQOL were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Mechanical complication rates in PI - LL, RLL, LDI, RLL, and LDI interpreted together, and RLL subgroups for each PI - LL category were compared using chi-square tests and the exact test. Predictive models for mechanical complications with RLL and PI - LL were analyzed using binomial logistic regressions. RESULTS Two hundred twenty-two patients (168 women, 54 men) were included. The mean age was 52.2 ± 19.3 years (range 18-84 years). The mean follow-up was 28.8 ± 8.2 months (range 24-62 months). There was a significant correlation between PI - LL and PI (r = 0.441, p < 0.001), threatening the use of PI - LL to quantify spinopelvic mismatch for different PI values. RLL was not correlated with PI (r = -0.093, p > 0.05); therefore, it was able to quantify divergence from ideal lordosis for all PI values. Compared with PI - LL, RLL had stronger correlations with HRQOL scores (p < 0.05). Discrimination performance was better for the model with RLL than for PI - LL. The agreement between RLL and PI - LL was high (κ = 0.943, p < 0.001), moderate (κ = 0.455, p < 0.001), and poor (κ = -0.154, p = 0.343), respectively, for large, average, and small PI sizes. When analyzed by RLL, each PI - LL category was further divided into distinct groups of patients who had different mechanical complication rates (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Using the formula of PI - LL may be insufficient to quantify normolordosis for the whole spectrum of PI values when applied as an absolute numeric value in conjunction with previously reported population-based average thresholds of 10° and 20°. Schwab PI - LL groups were found to constitute an inhomogeneous group of patients. RLL offers an individualized quantification of LL for all PI sizes. Compared with PI - LL, RLL showed a greater association with both mechanical complications and HRQOL. The use of RLL and LDI together, instead of PI - LL, for surgical planning may result in lower mechanical complication rates and better long-term HRQOL.

Untreated Thoracic Curve in Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis: What Are Patients' Concerns?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective two-cohort comparative analysis of data collected prospectively. OBJECTIVES: To analyze a cohort of patients with untreated thoracic curves of an adult multicenter deformity database [European spine study group (ESSG)], describe patient characteristics and concerns, and establish the rate and motivations for surgical intervention. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Idiopathic thoracic curves have a significant clinical and socioeconomic impact during adolescence. However, little attention has been given to adult thoracic scoliosis. The complaints of patients that have reached adulthood with an untreated thoracic curve are still not well studied. METHODS: The database of 1,142 prospective consecutive adult patients with deformity was searched to identify patients with untreated thoracic idiopathic curves: Schwab Type T curves, and Schwab Type D with thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) curves <40° and a difference between main thoracic (MT) and the TL/L ≥15°. Demographic data, different radiologic preoperative parameters, and health-related quality of life questionnaires were assessed. RESULTS: Forty-two patients met inclusion criteria, showing the following characteristics: age, 30.9 ± 12.5 years; thoracic Cobb, 55.6 ± 10.8°; lumbar Cobb, 28.1 ± 7.3°; sagittal vertical axis, 2.9 ± 19.3 cm; Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI), 4 ± 2.5; Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 20.4 ± 17.4; Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire (SRS-22) subtotal, 3.6 ± 0.7; 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) mental health, 46.1 ± 10.1; SF-36 physical health, 47.3 ± 11.1. Only 13 of these patients underwent surgery. Compared with nonoperated patients, they were younger (24.3 ± 7.3 vs. 33.8 ± 13.4 years; p = .009), had larger MT curves (58.7° ± 9.6 vs. 50.6° ± 8.3; p = .012), and had worse SRS-22 self-image scores (2.9 ± 0.8 vs. 3.5 ± 0.8; p = .042). No patients older than 50 years underwent surgery, despite having worse SRS-22 function (3.0 ± 0.9 vs. 4.1 ± 0.9, p = .032) and worse ODI scores (42.4 ± 19.9 vs. 18.7 ± 18.0, p = .026). CONCLUSIONS: Very few adult deformity patients sought treatment because of untreated thoracic scoliotic curve. The probability of undergoing surgery was low (13/42), and it was associated with youth, curve magnitude, and poor self-image. The rate of surgical treatment of the thoracic curve appears to diminish with age, despite its being associated with poorer function and greater disability in the older patient.

Proximal junctional vertebral fracture-subluxation after adult spine deformity surgery. Does vertebral augmentation avoid this complication? A case report.

BACKGROUND: To report to the orthopedic community a case of vertebral fracture and adjacent vertebral subluxation through the upper instrumented vertebra after thoracolumbar fusion with augmentation of the cranial level. METHODS: This report reviewed the patient`s medical record, her imaging studies and related literature. The possible factors contributing to this fracture are hypothesized. RESULTS: A 70-year-old woman underwent decompressive surgery and posterolateral fusion for adult lumbar scoliosis. We used pedicular screws from T10 to S1 and iliac screw at the right side, augmented with cement at T10, T11, L1, L5 and S1; and prophylactic vertebroplasty at T9 to avoid the "topping-off syndrome".Thirty days after discharge, without recognizable inciting trauma, the patient complained of pain in the lower thoracic area. The exam revealed overall neurological deficit below the level of fracture.CT scan and MRI demonstrated a T10 vertebral collapse and T9 vertebral subluxation with morphologic features of flexion-distraction fracture through the upper edge of the screw.At this point, the authors performed posterior decompression at T9 to T10 and extended posterolateral arthrodesis from T2 to T10.To our knowledge, this is an unreported fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Augmentation of the cranial level in a long thoracolumbar fusion has been developed to avoid the junctional kyphosis and compression fractures at that level. We alert the orthopedic community that this augmentation may lead to further and more severe fractures, although this opinion requires investigation for confirmation.