Browsing by Author "Albert, Todd J"

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    ItemOpen Access
    Neurological Complications and Recovery Rates of Patients With Adult Cervical Deformity Surgeries.
    (Global spine journal, 2022-07) Kim, Han Jo; Yao, Yu-Cheng; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Smith, Justin S; Kelly, Michael P; Gupta, Munish; Albert, Todd J; Protopsaltis, Themistocles S; Mundis, Gregory M; Passias, Peter; Klineberg, Eric; Bess, Shay; Lafage, Virginie; Ames, Christopher P; International Spine Study Group (ISSG)

    Study design

    Retrospective cohort study.

    Objective

    This study aims to report the incidence, risk factors, and recovery rate of neurological complications (NC) in patients with adult cervical deformity (ACD) who underwent corrective surgery.

    Methods

    ACD patients undergoing surgery from 2013 to 2015 were enrolled in a prospective, multicenter database. Patients were separated into 2 groups according to the presence of neurological complications (NC vs no-NC groups). The types, timing, recovery patterns, and interventions for NC were recorded. Patients' demographics, surgical details, radiographic parameters, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores were compared.

    Results

    106 patients were prospectively included. Average age was 60.8 years with a mean of 18.2 months follow-up. The overall incidence of NC was 18.9%; of these, 68.1% were major complications. Nerve root motor deficit was the most common complication, followed by radiculopathy, sensory deficit, and spinal cord injury. The proportion of complications occurring within 30 days of surgery was 54.5%. The recovery rate from neurological complication was high (90.9%), with most of the recoveries occurring within 6 months and continuing even after 12 months. Only 2 patients (1.9%) had continuous neurological complication. No demographic or preoperative radiographic risk factors could be identified, and anterior corpectomy and posterior foraminotomy were found to be performed less in the NC group. The final HRQOL outcome was not significantly different between the 2 groups.

    Conclusions

    Our data is valuable to surgeons and patients to better understand the neurological complications before performing or undergoing complex cervical deformity surgery.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Outcomes of Operative Treatment for Adult Cervical Deformity: A Prospective Multicenter Assessment With 1-Year Follow-up.
    (Neurosurgery, 2018-11) Ailon, Tamir; Smith, Justin S; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Kim, Han Jo; Mundis, Gregory; Gupta, Munish; Klineberg, Eric; Schwab, Frank; Lafage, Virginie; Lafage, Renaud; Passias, Peter; Protopsaltis, Themistocles; Neuman, Brian; Daniels, Alan; Scheer, Justin K; Soroceanu, Alex; Hart, Robert; Hostin, Rick; Burton, Douglas; Deviren, Vedat; Albert, Todd J; Riew, K Daniel; Bess, Shay; Ames, Christopher P; International Spine Study Group
    BACKGROUND:Despite the potential for profound impact of adult cervical deformity (ACD) on function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), there are few high-quality studies that assess outcomes of surgical treatment for these patients. OBJECTIVE:To determine the impact of surgical treatment for ACD on HRQOL. METHODS:We conducted a prospective cohort study of surgically treated ACD patients eligible for 1-yr follow-up. Baseline deformity characteristics, surgical parameters, and 1-yr HRQOL outcomes were assessed. RESULTS:Of 77 ACD patients, 55 (71%) had 1-yr follow-up (64% women, mean age of 62 yr, mean Charlson Comorbidity Index of 0.6, previous cervical surgery in 47%). Diagnoses included cervical sagittal imbalance (56%), cervical kyphosis (55%), proximal junctional kyphosis (7%) and coronal deformity (9%). Posterior fusion was performed in 85% (mean levels = 10), and anterior fusion was performed in 53% (mean levels = 5). Three-column osteotomy was performed in 24% of patients. One year following surgery, ACD patients had significant improvement in Neck Disability Index (50.5 to 38.0, P < .001), neck pain numeric rating scale score (6.9 to 4.3, P < .001), EuroQol 5 dimension (EQ-5D) index (0.51 to 0.66, P < .001), and EQ-5D subscores: mobility (1.9 to 1.7, P = .019), usual activities (2.2 to 1.9, P = .007), pain/discomfort (2.4 to 2.1, P < .001), anxiety/depression (1.8 to 1.5, P = .014). CONCLUSION:Based on a prospective multicenter series of ACD patients, surgical treatment provided significant improvement in multiple measures of pain and function, including Neck Disability Index, neck pain numeric rating scale score, and EQ-5D. Further follow-up will be necessary to assess the long-term durability of these improved outcomes.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Prospective Multicenter Assessment of Early Complication Rates Associated With Adult Cervical Deformity Surgery in 78 Patients.
    (Neurosurgery, 2016-09) Smith, Justin S; Ramchandran, Subaraman; Lafage, Virginie; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Ailon, Tamir; Klineberg, Eric; Protopsaltis, Themistocles; Schwab, Frank J; OʼBrien, Michael; Hostin, Richard; Gupta, Munish; Mundis, Gregory; Hart, Robert; Kim, Han Jo; Passias, Peter G; Scheer, Justin K; Deviren, Vedat; Burton, Douglas C; Eastlack, Robert; Bess, Shay; Albert, Todd J; Riew, K Daniel; Ames, Christopher P; International Spine Study Group

    Background

    Few reports have focused on treatment of adult cervical deformity (ACD).

    Objective

    To present early complication rates associated with ACD surgery.

    Methods

    A prospective multicenter database of consecutive operative ACD patients was reviewed for early (≤30 days from surgery) complications. Enrollment required at least 1 of the following: cervical kyphosis >10 degrees, cervical scoliosis >10 degrees, C2-7 sagittal vertical axis >4 cm, or chin-brow vertical angle >25 degrees.

    Results

    Seventy-eight patients underwent surgical treatment for ACD (mean age, 60.8 years). Surgical approaches included anterior-only (14%), posterior-only (49%), anterior-posterior (35%), and posterior-anterior-posterior (3%). Mean numbers of fused anterior and posterior vertebral levels were 4.7 and 9.4, respectively. A total of 52 early complications were reported, including 26 minor and 26 major. Twenty-two (28.2%) patients had at least 1 minor complication, and 19 (24.4%) had at least 1 major complication. Overall, 34 (43.6%) patients had at least 1 complication. The most common complications included dysphagia (11.5%), deep wound infection (6.4%), new C5 motor deficit (6.4%), and respiratory failure (5.1%). One (1.3%) mortality occurred. Early complication rates differed significantly by surgical approach: anterior-only (27.3%), posterior-only (68.4%), and anterior-posterior/posterior-anterior-posterior (79.3%) (P = .007).

    Conclusion

    This report provides benchmark rates for overall and specific ACD surgery complications. Although the surgical approach(es) used were likely driven by the type and complexity of deformity, there were significantly higher complication rates associated with combined and posterior-only approaches compared with anterior-only approaches. These findings may prove useful in treatment planning, patient counseling, and ongoing efforts to improve safety of care.

    Abbreviations

    3CO, 3-column osteotomiesACD, adult cervical deformityEBL, estimated blood lossISSG, International Spine Study groupSVA, sagittal vertical axis.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Reliability assessment of a novel cervical spine deformity classification system.
    (Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2015-12) Ames, Christopher P; Smith, Justin S; Eastlack, Robert; Blaskiewicz, Donald J; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Schwab, Frank; Bess, Shay; Kim, Han Jo; Mundis, Gregory M; Klineberg, Eric; Gupta, Munish; O'Brien, Michael; Hostin, Richard; Scheer, Justin K; Protopsaltis, Themistocles S; Fu, Kai-Ming G; Hart, Robert; Albert, Todd J; Riew, K Daniel; Fehlings, Michael G; Deviren, Vedat; Lafage, Virginie; International Spine Study Group

    Object

    Despite the complexity of cervical spine deformity (CSD) and its significant impact on patient quality of life, there exists no comprehensive classification system. The objective of this study was to develop a novel classification system based on a modified Delphi approach and to characterize the intra- and interobserver reliability of this classification.

    Methods

    Based on an extensive literature review and a modified Delphi approach with an expert panel, a CSD classification system was generated. The classification system included a deformity descriptor and 5 modifiers that incorporated sagittal, regional, and global spinopelvic alignment and neurological status. The descriptors included: "C," "CT," and "T" for primary cervical kyphotic deformities with an apex in the cervical spine, cervicothoracic junction, or thoracic spine, respectively; "S" for primary coronal deformity with a coronal Cobb angle ≥ 15°; and "CVJ" for primary craniovertebral junction deformity. The modifiers included C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), horizontal gaze (chin-brow to vertical angle [CBVA]), T1 slope (TS) minus C2-7 lordosis (TS-CL), myelopathy (modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association [mJOA] scale score), and the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab classification for thoracolumbar deformity. Application of the classification system requires the following: 1) full-length standing posteroanterior (PA) and lateral spine radiographs that include the cervical spine and femoral heads; 2) standing PA and lateral cervical spine radiographs; 3) completed and scored mJOA questionnaire; and 4) a clinical photograph or radiograph that includes the skull for measurement of the CBVA. A series of 10 CSD cases, broadly representative of the classification system, were selected and sufficient radiographic and clinical history to enable classification were assembled. A panel of spinal deformity surgeons was queried to classify each case twice, with a minimum of 1 intervening week. Inter- and intrarater reliability measures were based on calculations of Fleiss k coefficient values.

    Results

    Twenty spinal deformity surgeons participated in this study. Interrater reliability (Fleiss k coefficients) for the deformity descriptor rounds 1 and 2 were 0.489 and 0.280, respectively, and mean intrarater reliability was 0.584. For the modifiers, including the SRS-Schwab components, the interrater (round 1/round 2) and intrarater reliabilities (Fleiss k coefficients) were: C2-7 SVA (0.338/0.412, 0.584), horizontal gaze (0.779/0.430, 0.768), TS-CL (0.721/0.567, 0.720), myelopathy (0.602/0.477, 0.746), SRS-Schwab curve type (0.590/0.433, 0.564), pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (0.554/0.386, 0.826), pelvic tilt (0.714/0.627, 0.633), and C7-S1 SVA (0.071/0.064, 0.233), respectively. The parameter with the poorest reliability was the C7-S1 SVA, which may have resulted from differences in interpretation of positive and negative measurements.

    Conclusions

    The proposed classification provides a mechanism to assess CSD within the framework of global spinopelvic malalignment and clinically relevant parameters. The intra- and interobserver reliabilities suggest moderate agreement and serve as the basis for subsequent improvement and study of the proposed classification.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Surgeon input can increase the value of registry data: early experience from the American Spine Registry.
    (Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2023-09) Glassman, Steven D; Carreon, Leah Y; Asher, Anthony L; De, Ayushmita; Mullen, Kyle; Porter, Kimberly R; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Knightly, John J; Foley, Kevin T; Albert, Todd J; Brodke, Darrel S; Polly, David W; Bydon, Mohamad

    Objective

    Clear diagnostic delineation is necessary for the development of a strong evidence base in lumbar spinal surgery. Experience with existing national databases suggests that International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10) coding is insufficient to support that need. The purpose of this study was to assess agreement between surgeon-specified diagnostic indication and hospital-reported ICD-10 codes for lumbar spine surgery.

    Methods

    Data collection for the American Spine Registry (ASR) includes an option to denote the surgeon's specific diagnostic indication for each procedure. For cases treated between January 2020 and March 2022, surgeon-delineated diagnosis was compared with the ICD-10 diagnosis generated by standard ASR electronic medical record data extraction. For decompression-only cases, the primary analysis focused on the etiology of neural compression as determined by the surgeon versus that determined on the basis of the related ICD-10 codes extracted from the ASR database. For lumbar fusion cases, the primary analysis compared structural pathology, which may have required fusion, as determined by the surgeon versus that determined on the basis of the extracted ICD-10 codes. This allowed for identification of agreement between surgeon delineation and extracted ICD-10 codes.

    Results

    In 5926 decompression-only cases, agreement between the surgeon and ASR ICD-10 codes was 89% for spinal stenosis and 78% for lumbar disc herniation and/or radiculopathy. Both the surgeon and database indicated no structural pathology (i.e., none) suggesting the need for fusion in 88% of cases. In 5663 lumbar fusion cases, agreement was 76% for spondylolisthesis but poor for other diagnostic indications.

    Conclusions

    Agreement between surgeon-specified diagnostic indication and hospital-reported ICD-10 codes was best for patients who underwent decompression only. In the fusion cases, agreement with ICD-10 codes was best in the spondylolisthesis group (76%). In cases other than spondylolisthesis, agreement was poor due to multiple diagnoses or lack of an ICD-10 code that reflected the pathology. This study suggested that standard ICD-10 codes may be inadequate to clearly define the indications for decompression or fusion in patients with lumbar degenerative disease.
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    ItemOpen Access
    The health impact of adult cervical deformity in patients presenting for surgical treatment: Comparison to United States population norms and chronic disease states based on the EuroQuol-5 dimensions questionnaire
    (Clinical Neurosurgery, 2017-05-01) Smith, Justin S; Line, Breton; Bess, Shay; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Kim, Han Jo; Mundis, Gregory; Scheer, Justin K; Klineberg, Eric; O'Brien, Michael; Hostin, Richard; Gupta, Munish; Daniels, Alan; Kelly, Michael; Gum, Jeffrey L; Schwab, Frank J; Lafage, Virginie; Lafage, Renaud; Ailon, Tamir; Passias, Peter; Protopsaltis, Themistocles; Albert, Todd J; Riew, K Daniel; Hart, Robert; Burton, Doug; Deviren, Vedat; Ames, Christopher P; Group, International Spine Study
    BACKGROUND: Although adult cervical spine deformity (ACSD) is associated with pain and disability, its health impact has not been quantified in comparison to other chronic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To perform a comparative analysis of the health impact of symptomatic ACSD to US normative and chronic disease values using EQ-5D (EuroQuol-5 Dimensions questionnaire) scores. METHODS: ACSD patients presenting for surgical treatment were identified from a prospectively collected multicenter database. Baseline demographics and EQ-5D scores were collected and compared with US normative and disease state values. RESULTS: Of 121 ACSD patients, 115 (95%) completed the EQ-5D (60% women, mean age 61 years, previous spine surgery in 44%). Diagnoses included kyphosis with mid-cervical (63.4%), cervico-thoracic (23.5%), or thoracic (8.7%) apex and primary coronal deformity (4.3%). The mean ACSD EQ-5D index was 0.511 (standard definition = 0.224), which is 34% below the bottom 25th percentile (0.780) for similar age- and gender-matched US normative populations. Mean ACSD EQ-5D index values were worse than the bottom 25th percentile for several other disease states, including chronic ischemic heart disease (0.708), malignant breast cancer (0.708), and malignant prostate cancer (0.708). ACSD mean index values were comparable to the bottom 25th percentile values for blindness/low vision (0.543), emphysema (0.508), renal failure (0.506), and stroke (0.463). EQ-5D scores did not significantly differ based on cervical deformity type (P =.66). CONCLUSION: The health impact of symptomatic ACSD is substantial, with negative impact across all EQ-5D domains. The mean ACSD EQ-5D index was comparable to the bottom 25th percentile values for blindness/low vision, emphysema, renal failure, and stroke.