Published online Dec 26, 2017. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v5.i6.132
Peer-review started: September 16, 2017
First decision: November 7, 2017
Revised: November 21, 2017
Accepted: December 3, 2017
Article in press: December 3, 2017
Published online: December 26, 2017
Processing time: 101 Days and 6.1 Hours
To determine the incidence and risk factors for mechanical complications (MC) after surgical correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) with osteotomy.
A retrospective study was performed. Inclusion criteria: Surgical correction of ASD using osteotomy; male or female; > 20 years old; follow-up ≥ 24 mo or revision. The MC of spine and spinal instrumentation were studied separately. Risk analysis included assessment of the association between more than 50 different characteristics (demographic, clinical, radiographic, and instrumentation) with different types of MC.
The medical records of 94 operations in 88 subjects were analyzed: Female (68%), mean age 58.6 (SD, 12.7) years. Cumulative incidence of MC at 2 year follow-up was 43.6%. Of these, 78% required revision (P < 0.001). The following characteristics had significant (P ≤ 0.05) association with MC: (1) Preoperative: osteoporosis, smoking, previous spinal operation, sagittal vertical axis (SVA) > 100 mm, lumbar lordosis (LL) < 34°; (2) postoperative: SVA > 75 mm; operative correction: SVA > 75 mm, LL > 30°, thoracic kyphosis > 25°, and pelvic tilt > 9°; a fall; pseudarthrosis; and (3) device and surgical technique: use of previously implanted instrumentation; use of domino and/or parallel connectors; type of osteotomy (PSO vs SPO) if preoperative SVA < 100 mm; lumbar osteotomy location; in-situ rod contouring > 60°; and fixation to sacrum/pelvis.
Risk of MC after surgical correction of ASD is substantial. To decrease this risk over- and/or insufficient correction of the sagittal imbalance should be avoided.
Core tip: The main study goal was evaluation of incidence and risk factors for different mechanical complications (MC) after surgical correction of adult spine deformity with osteotomy. Around half of patients experienced complications during two postoperative years; 78% of these cases required additional surgery. MC of spine occurred earlier and more often required revision than the MC of spinal instrumentation. The main risk factors for MC included severe preoperative sagittal imbalance, inadequate correction of the spinopelvic alignment, preoperative comorbidities (osteoporosis), postoperative events (falls), and features of the spinal instrumentation.