Browsing by Subject "Sacrum"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Can a Minimal Clinically Important Difference Be Achieved in Elderly Patients with Adult Spinal Deformity Who Undergo Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery?
    (World neurosurgery, 2016-02) Park, Paul; Okonkwo, David O; Nguyen, Stacie; Mundis, Gregory M; Than, Khoi D; Deviren, Vedat; La Marca, Frank; Fu, Kai-Ming; Wang, Michael Y; Uribe, Juan S; Anand, Neel; Fessler, Richard; Nunley, Pierce D; Chou, Dean; Kanter, Adam S; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Akbarnia, Behrooz A; Passias, Peter G; Eastlack, Robert K; Mummaneni, Praveen V; International Spine Study Group

    Background

    Older age has been considered a relative contraindication to complex spinal procedures. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques to treat patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) have emerged with the potential benefit of decreased approach-related morbidity.

    Objective

    To determine whether a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) could be achieved in patients ages ≥ 65 years with ASD who underwent MIS.

    Methods

    Multicenter database of patients who underwent MIS for ASD was queried. Outcome metrics assessed were Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain. On the basis of published reports, MCID was defined as a positive change of 12.8 ODI, 1.2 VAS back pain, and 1.6 VAS leg pain.

    Results

    Forty-two patients were identified. Mean age was 70.3 years; 31 (73.8%) were women. Preoperatively, mean coronal curve, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence to lumbar lordosis mismatch, and sagittal vertical axis were 35°, 24.6°, 14.2°, and 4.7 cm, respectively. Postoperatively, mean coronal curve, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence to lumbar lordosis, and sagittal vertical axis were 18°, 25.4°, 11.9°, and 4.9 cm, respectively. A mean of 5.0 levels was treated posteriorly, and a mean of 4.0 interbody fusions was performed. Mean ODI improved from 47.1 to 25.1. Mean VAS back and leg pain scores improved from 6.8 and 5.9 to 2.7 and 2.7, respectively. Mean follow-up was 32.1 months. For ODI, 64.3% of patients achieved MCID. For VAS back and leg pain, 82.9% and 72.2%, respectively, reached MCID.

    Conclusions

    MCID represents the threshold at which patients feel a meaningful clinical improvement has occurred. Our study results suggest that the majority of elderly patients with modest ASD can achieve MCID with MIS.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Molecular characterization of chordoma xenografts generated from a novel primary chordoma cell source and two chordoma cell lines.
    (J Neurosurg Spine, 2014-09) Karikari, Isaac O; Gilchrist, Christopher L; Jing, Liufang; Alcorta, David A; Chen, Jun; Richardson, William J; Gabr, Mostafa A; Bell, Richard D; Kelley, Michael J; Bagley, Carlos A; Setton, Lori A
    OBJECT: Chordoma cells can generate solid-like tumors in xenograft models that express some molecular characteristics of the parent tumor, including positivity for brachyury and cytokeratins. However, there is a dearth of molecular markers that relate to chordoma tumor growth, as well as the cell lines needed to advance treatment. The objective in this study was to isolate a novel primary chordoma cell source and analyze the characteristics of tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model for comparison with the established U-CH1 and U-CH2b cell lines. METHODS: Primary cells from a sacral chordoma, called "DVC-4," were cultured alongside U-CH1 and U-CH2b cells for more than 20 passages and characterized for expression of CD24 and brachyury. While brachyury is believed essential for driving tumor formation, CD24 is associated with healthy nucleus pulposus cells. Each cell type was subcutaneously implanted in NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ(null) mice. The percentage of solid tumors formed, time to maximum tumor size, and immunostaining scores for CD24 and brachyury (intensity scores of 0-3, heterogeneity scores of 0-1) were reported and evaluated to test differences across groups. RESULTS: The DVC-4 cells retained chordoma-like morphology in culture and exhibited CD24 and brachyury expression profiles in vitro that were similar to those for U-CH1 and U-CH2b. Both U-CH1 and DVC-4 cells grew tumors at rates that were faster than those for U-CH2b cells. Gross tumor developed at nearly every site (95%) injected with U-CH1 and at most sites (75%) injected with DVC-4. In contrast, U-CH2b cells produced grossly visible tumors in less than 50% of injected sites. Brachyury staining was similar among tumors derived from all 3 cell types and was intensely positive (scores of 2-3) in a majority of tissue sections. In contrast, differences in the pattern and intensity of staining for CD24 were noted among the 3 types of cell-derived tumors (p < 0.05, chi-square test), with evidence of intense and uniform staining in a majority of U-CH1 tumor sections (score of 3) and more than half of the DVC-4 tumor sections (scores of 2-3). In contrast, a majority of sections from U-CH2b cells stained modestly for CD24 (scores of 1-2) with a predominantly heterogeneous staining pattern. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on xenografts generated from U-CH2b cells in which a low tumorigenicity was discovered despite evidence of chordoma-like characteristics in vitro. For tumors derived from a primary chordoma cell and U-CH1 cell line, similarly intense staining for CD24 was observed, which may correspond to their similar potential to grow tumors. In contrast, U-CH2b tumors stained less intensely for CD24. These results emphasize that many markers, including CD24, may be useful in distinguishing among chordoma cell types and their tumorigenicity in vivo.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Monitoring.
    (Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2011-08) Shaffrey, Christopher I
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Outcomes and complications of extension of previous long fusion to the sacro-pelvis: is an anterior approach necessary?
    (World neurosurgery, 2013-01) Fu, Kai-Ming G; Smith, Justin S; Burton, Douglas C; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Boachie-Adjei, Oheneba; Carlson, Brandon; Schwab, Frank J; Lafage, Virginie; Hostin, Richard; Bess, Shay; Akbarnia, Behrooz A; Mundis, Greg; Klineberg, Eric; Gupta, Munish; International Spine Study Group

    Background

    Patients with previous multilevel spinal fusion may require extension of the fusion to the sacro-pelvis. Our objective was to evaluate the outcomes and complications of these patients, stratified based on whether the revision was performed using a posterior-only spinal fusion (PSF) or combined anterior-posterior spinal fusion (APSF).

    Methods

    A retrospective, multicenter evaluation of adults (>18 years old) with a history of prior spinal fusion for scoliosis (≥4 levels) terminating in the distal lumbar spine requiring extension of fusion to the sacro-pelvis (including iliac fixation in all cases), with minimum 2-year follow-up, was performed. Patients were stratified based on approach (APSF vs. PSF) and inclusion of pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO). The PSF group included patients treated with an anterior interbody fusion done through a posterior approach, whereas patients in the APSF group all had both anterior and posterior surgical approaches. Clinical outcomes were based on the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-22) questionnaire.

    Results

    Between 1995 and 2006, 45 patients (mean age = 49 years) met inclusion criteria, with a mean follow-up of 41.9 months (range 24 to 135 months). Demographic, preoperative, operative, and postoperative radiographic, SRS-22, and follow-up results were similar between APSF (n=30) and PSF (n=15) groups. The APSF group had more complications (13 of 30 vs. 3 of 15) and a greater number of pseudarthrosis (4 of 30 vs. 0 of 15) than the PSF group; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Patients treated with a PSO (n=13) had greater sagittal vertical axis correction (7.7 cm vs. 2.2 cm; P=.04) compared with patients not treated with a PSO (n=32). There were no differences in complication rates or follow-up SRS-22 scores based on whether a PSO was performed (P>.05).

    Conclusions

    Among adults with previously treated scoliosis requiring extension to the sacro-pelvis, PSF produced radiographic fusion and clinical outcomes equivalent to APSF, whereas complication rates may be lower. PSO resulted in greater sagittal plane correction, without an increase in overall complication rates.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Proximal junctional failure in primary thoracolumbar fusion/fixation to the sacrum/pelvis for adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis: long-term follow-up of a prospective multicenter cohort of 160 patients.
    (Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2023-03) Lazaro, Bruno; Sardi, Juan Pablo; Smith, Justin S; Kelly, Michael P; Yanik, Elizabeth L; Dial, Brian; Hills, Jeffrey; Gupta, Munish C; Baldus, Christine R; Yen, Chun Po; Lafage, Virginie; Ames, Christopher P; Bess, Shay; Schwab, Frank; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Bridwell, Keith H

    Objective

    Proximal junctional failure (PJF) is a severe form of proximal junctional kyphosis. Previous reports on PJF have been limited by heterogeneous cohorts and relatively short follow-ups. The authors' objectives herein were to identify risk factors for PJF and to assess its long-term incidence and revision rates in a homogeneous cohort.

    Methods

    The authors reviewed data from the Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis 1 trial (ASLS-1), a National Institutes of Health-sponsored prospective multicenter study. Inclusion criteria were an age ≥ 40 years, ASLS (Cobb angle ≥ 30° and Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] ≥ 20 or Scoliosis Research Society revised 22-item questionnaire [SRS-22r] score ≤ 4.0 in pain, function, or self-image domains), and primary thoracolumbar fusion/fixation to the sacrum/pelvis of ≥ 7 levels. PJF was defined as a postoperative proximal junctional angle (PJA) change > 20°, fracture of the uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV) or UIV+1 with > 20% vertebral height loss, spondylolisthesis of UIV/UIV+1 > 3 mm, or UIV screw dislodgment.

    Results

    One hundred sixty patients (141 women) were included in this analysis and had a median age of 62 years and a mean follow-up of 4.3 years (range 0.1-6.1 years). Forty-six patients (28.8%) had PJF at a median of 0.92 years (IQR 0.14, 1.23 years) following surgery. Based on Kaplan-Meier analyses, PJF rates at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years were 14.4%, 21.9%, 25.9%, and 27.4%, respectively. On univariate analysis, PJF was associated with greater age (p = 0.0316), greater body mass index (BMI; p = 0.0319), worse baseline patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs; ODI, SRS-22r, and SF-12 Physical Component Summary [PCS]; all p < 0.04), the use of posterior column osteotomies (PCOs; p = 0.0039), and greater postoperative thoracic kyphosis (TK; p = 0.0031) and PJA (p < 0.001). The use of UIV hooks was protective against PJF (p = 0.0340). On regression analysis (without postoperative measures), PJF was associated with greater BMI (HR 1.077, 95% CI 1.007-1.153, p = 0.0317), lower preoperative PJA (HR 0.607, 95% CI 0.407-0.906, p = 0.0146), and greater preoperative TK (HR 1.362, 95% CI 1.082-1.715, p = 0.0085). Patients with PJF had worse PROMs at the last follow-up (ODI, SRS-22r subscore and self-image, and SF-12 PCS; p < 0.04). Sixteen PJF patients (34.8%) underwent revision, and PJF recurred in 3 (18.8%).

    Conclusions

    Among 160 primary ASLS patients with a median age of 62 years and predominant coronal deformity, the PJF rate was 28.8% at a mean 4.3-year follow-up, with a revision rate of 34.8%. On univariate analysis, PJF was associated with a greater age and BMI, worse baseline PROMs, the use of PCOs, and greater postoperative TK and PJA. The use of UIV hooks was protective against PJF. On multivariate analysis (without postoperative measures), a higher risk of PJF was associated with greater BMI and preoperative TK and lower preoperative PJA.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Proximal Junctional Kyphosis Prevention Strategies: A Video Technique Guide.
    (Operative neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.), 2017-10) Safaee, Michael M; Osorio, Joseph A; Verma, Kushagra; Bess, Shay; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Smith, Justin S; Hart, Robert; Deviren, Vedat; Ames, Christopher P
    BACKGROUND:Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is a well-recognized complication in patients undergoing posterior instrumented fusion procedures for adult spinal deformity. Strategies that reduce rates of PJK have the potential to improve the safety of these operations and decrease cost by eliminating the need for revision surgery. OBJECTIVE:To present a set of surgical techniques that can decrease rates of PJK in adults undergoing surgery for spinal deformity. METHODS:We summarize the use of vertebroplasty, transverse process hooks, terminal rod contouring, and ligament augmentation as means to reduce rates of PJK. RESULTS:We present PJK prevention strategies and a video technique guide that are safe, technically feasible, and add minimal operative time to these surgical procedures. When applied to appropriate high-risk patients, these techniques have the potential to dramatically reduce rates of PJK, which improves quality of life and decreases the cost associated with this treating adult spinal deformity. CONCLUSION:PJK prevention strategies represent a critical area for improvement in surgery for adult spinal deformity. We present a summary of techniques that are safe, feasible, and add minimal time to the overall procedure. These techniques warrant investigation in a thoughtful, prospective manner, but are supported by existing data and compelling biomechanical rationale. Our hope is that these strategies can be applied, particularly in high-risk patients, to help reduce rates of PJK.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Re-operation After Long-Segment Fusions for Adult Spinal Deformity: The Impact of Extending the Construct Below the Lumbar Spine.
    (Neurosurgery, 2018-02) Witiw, Christopher D; Fessler, Richard G; Nguyen, Stacie; Mummaneni, Praveen; Anand, Neel; Blaskiewicz, Donald; Uribe, Juan; Wang, Michael Y; Kanter, Adam S; Okonkwo, David; Park, Paul; Deviren, Vedat; Akbarnia, Behrooz A; Eastlack, Robert K; Shaffrey, Christopher; Mundis, Gregory M

    Background

    Deciding where to end a long-segment fusion for adult spinal deformity (ASD) may be a challenge, particularly in the absence of an abnormality at L5/S1. Some suggest prophylactic extension of the construct to the sacrum and/or ilium (S/I) to protect against distal junctional failure, while others support terminating in the lower lumbar spine to preserve motion.

    Objective

    To compare the risk of re-operation after long-segment fusions for ASD that ends at L4 or L5 (L4/5) vs S/I.

    Methods

    A multicenter database of patients treated for ASD by circumferential minimally invasive surgery or hybrid surgical technique was screened for individuals with long fusions (≥4 vertebral levels) ending at L4 or below and with at least 2 yr of follow-up. Multivariate regression modeling was used to compare surgical morbidity between the L4/5 and S/I groups, and Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to compare risk of re-operation.

    Results

    There were 45 subjects with fusion to L4/5 and 71 to S/I. Over a 32-mo median follow-up, 41 re-operations were performed; 6 were for distal junctional failure. In those with normal or mild degeneration at L5/S1, fusion to S/I afforded no significant change in re-operative risk (hazard ratio = 1.18 [95% confidence interval: 0.53-2.62], P = .682). In those undergoing circumferential minimally invasive surgery correction, fusion to S/I was associated with significantly greater blood loss (499.6 cc, P < .001) and surgical time (97.5 min, P = .04).

    Conclusion

    In the setting of a normal or mildly degenerated L5/S1 disc space, fusion to the sacrum/ilium did not significantly change the risk of requiring a re-operation after a long-segment fusion for ASD.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Rod fractures in thoracolumbar fusions to the sacrum/pelvis for adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis: long-term follow-up of a prospective, multicenter cohort of 160 patients.
    (Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2023-02) Sardi, Juan Pablo; Lazaro, Bruno; Smith, Justin S; Kelly, Michael P; Dial, Brian; Hills, Jeffrey; Yanik, Elizabeth L; Gupta, Munish; Baldus, Christine R; Yen, Chun Po; Lafage, Virginie; Ames, Christopher P; Bess, Shay; Schwab, Frank; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Bridwell, Keith H

    Objective

    Previous reports of rod fracture (RF) in adult spinal deformity are limited by heterogeneous cohorts, low follow-up rates, and relatively short follow-up durations. Since the majority of RFs present > 2 years after surgery, true occurrence and revision rates remain unclear. The objectives of this study were to better understand the risk factors for RF and assess its occurrence and revision rates following primary thoracolumbar fusions to the sacrum/pelvis for adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis (ASLS) in a prospective series with long-term follow-up.

    Methods

    Patient records were obtained from the Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis-1 (ASLS-1) database, an NIH-sponsored multicenter, prospective study. Inclusion criteria were as follows: patients aged 40-80 years undergoing primary surgeries for ASLS (Cobb angle ≥ 30° and Oswestry Disability Index ≥ 20 or Scoliosis Research Society-22r ≤ 4.0 in pain, function, and/or self-image) with instrumented fusion of ≥ 7 levels that included the sacrum/pelvis. Patients with and without RF were compared to assess risk factors for RF and revision surgery.

    Results

    Inclusion criteria were met by 160 patients (median age 62 years, IQR 55.7-67.9 years). At a median follow-up of 5.1 years (IQR 3.8-6.6 years), there were 92 RFs in 62 patients (38.8%). The median time to RF was 3.0 years (IQR 1.9-4.54 years), and 73% occurred > 2 years following surgery. Based on Kaplan-Meier analyses, estimated RF rates at 2, 4, 5, and 8 years after surgery were 11%, 24%, 35%, and 49%, respectively. Baseline radiographic, clinical, and demographic characteristics were similar between patients with and without RF. In Cox regression models, greater postoperative pelvic tilt (HR 1.895, 95% CI 1.196-3.002, p = 0.0065) and greater estimated blood loss (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.005-1.036, p = 0.0088) were associated with increased risk of RF. Thirty-eight patients (61% of all RFs) underwent revision surgery. Bilateral RF was predictive of revision surgery (HR 3.52, 95% CI 1.8-6.9, p = 0.0002), while patients with unilateral nondisplaced RFs were less likely to require revision (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.84, p = 0.016).

    Conclusions

    This study provides what is to the authors' knowledge the highest-quality data to date on RF rates following ASLS surgery. At a median follow-up of 5.1 years, 38.8% of patients had at least one RF. Estimated RF rates at 2, 4, 5, and 8 years after surgery were 11%, 24%, 35%, and 49%, respectively. Greater estimated blood loss and postoperative pelvic tilt were significant risk factors for RF. These findings emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up to realize the true prevalence and cumulative incidence of RF.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Selecting caudal fusion levels: 2 year functional and stiffness outcomes with matched pairs analysis in multilevel fusion to L5 versus S1.
    (European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2017-06) Daniels, Alan H; Koller, Heiko; Hiratzka, Shannon L; Mayer, Michael; Meier, Oliver; Contag, Alec Gabriel; Eltorai, Adam EM; Hiratzka, Jayme; Kojo Hamilton, D; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Smith, Justin S; Bess, Shay; Klineberg, Eric O; Ames, Christopher P; Lafage, Virginie; Line, Breton; Schwab, Frank J; Hart, Robert A; Group, International Spine Study

    Purpose

    Controversy persists as to whether to end multilevel thoracolumbar fusions caudally at L5 or S1. Some argue that stopping at L5 may preserve greater function, but there are few data comparing functional limitations due to lumbar stiffness in patients with fusion to L5 versus S1. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients undergoing multilevel thoracolumbar fusions with an L5 caudal endpoint have a better lumbosacral function than patients with an S1 caudal endpoint.

    Methods

    Patients undergoing successful thoracolumbar fusion of 5 or more levels to L5 or S1, with solid fusion at 2 year follow-up, were examined from a single European center in addition to a multi-center North American database of 237 patients. In total, 40 patients with a distal stopping point of L5 were matched with a subset of 40 patients with a distal endpoint of S1 ± pelvic fixation. The L5 and S1 groups were matched for the final Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Sagittal Vertical Axis (SVA C7-S1), number of fusion levels, and age. Impacts of lumbar stiffness on function as measured by the Lumbar Stiffness Disability Index (LSDI) were compared using the conditional logistic regression.

    Results

    After matching, there was no significant difference between the S1 and L5 groups for the final ODI (29.22 ± 21.6 for S1 versus 29.21 ± 21.7 for L5; p = 0.98), SVA (29.5 ± 40.3 mm for S1 versus 33.7 ± 37.1 mm for L5; p = 0.97), mean age (61.6 ± 11.0 years for S1 versus 58.3 ± 12.6 years for L5; p = 0.23), and number of fusion levels (9.7 ± 3.3 levels for S1 versus 9.0 ± 3 levels for L5; p = 0.34). The final 2-year postoperative LSDI scores were not significantly different between the S1 group (28.08 ± 21.47) and L5 group (29.21 ± 21.66) (hazard ratio 0.99, 95 % CI 0.97-1.03, p = 0.81).

    Conclusion

    The analysis of patients with multilevel thoracolumbar fusions demonstrated that after minimum 2 year follow-up, self-reported functional impacts of lumbar stiffness were not significantly different between the patients with distal endpoints of L5 versus S1. The choice of distal fusion level of L5 does not appear to retain sufficient spinal flexibility to substantially affect postoperative function.

    Level of evidence

    Level III.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Upper thoracic versus lower thoracic upper instrumented vertebrae endpoints have similar outcomes and complications in adult scoliosis.
    (Spine, 2014-06) Kim, Han Jo; Boachie-Adjei, Oheneba; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Schwab, Frank; Lafage, Virginie; Bess, Shay; Gupta, Munish C; Smith, Justin S; Deviren, Vedat; Akbarnia, Behrooz; Mundis, Greg M; OʼBrien, Michael; Hostin, Richard; Ames, Christopher; International Spine Study Group

    Study design

    Retrospective review-multicenter database.

    Objective

    The purpose of this study was to compare the upper thoracic (UT) and lower thoracic (LT) upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) in long fusions to the sacrum for adult scoliosis.

    Summary of background data

    The optimal UIV for stopping long fusions to the sacrum/pelvis are controversial. Although a UT endpoint may lead to greater operative times, blood loss, and higher rates of pseudarthrosis, the risk for the development of proximal junctional kyphosis and need for revision surgery is likely lower.

    Methods

    Retrospective analysis of a prospective database of patients with adult spinal deformity, Patients were selected on the basis of fusions to the sacrum/pelvis with UIV of T1-T6 (UT group) and those with a UIV of T9-L1 (LT group). Demographic data, operative details, and radiographical outcomes with Scoliosis Research Society scores, and Oswestry Disability Index outcomes were collected, as well as complication data were compared. The Fisher exact T tests were used for statistical analysis.

    Results

    A total of 198 patients (UT = 91, LT = 107) with a mean age of 61.6 were followed for an average of 2.5 years. Demographic variables were similar between the groups except for larger numbers of females in the UT group and a slightly higher body mass index in the LT group. Preoperatively, the UT group demonstrated significantly more lumbar scoliosis, thoracic scoliosis, and thoracolumbar kyphosis. The UT group demonstrated a larger number of fused segments length of stay and longer operative times. There was slightly larger volume of blood loss in the UT group.The total number of complications and number of revision surgical procedures were similar between the groups. The UT group had a higher percentage of patients with 2 or more complications. Both groups had similar proximal junctional kyphosis angles and number of cases requiring revision for proximal junctional kyphosis. Scoliosis Research Society and Oswestry Disability Index outcomes were similar between the groups.

    Conclusion

    The UT and LT groups had similar outcomes. The UT group may have a higher rate of total complications, but major complications requiring return to the operative room were similar. The length of stay and operative times were higher in the UT group but may have been necessarily evidenced by the significantly higher coronal deformity and greater thoracolumbar kyphosis in the UT group.

    Level of evidence

    4.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Utility of multilevel lateral interbody fusion of the thoracolumbar coronal curve apex in adult deformity surgery in combination with open posterior instrumentation and L5-S1 interbody fusion: a case-matched evaluation of 32 patients.
    (Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2017-02) Theologis, Alexander A; Mundis, Gregory M; Nguyen, Stacie; Okonkwo, David O; Mummaneni, Praveen V; Smith, Justin S; Shaffrey, Christopher I; Fessler, Richard; Bess, Shay; Schwab, Frank; Diebo, Bassel G; Burton, Douglas; Hart, Robert; Deviren, Vedat; Ames, Christopher;  for the International Spine Study Group
    OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of supplementing long thoracolumbar posterior instrumented fusion (posterior spinal fusion, PSF) with lateral interbody fusion (LIF) of the lumbar/thoracolumbar coronal curve apex in adult spinal deformity (ASD). METHODS Two multicenter databases were evaluated. Adults who had undergone multilevel LIF of the coronal curve apex in addition to PSF with L5-S1 interbody fusion (LS+Apex group) were matched by number of posterior levels fused with patients who had undergone PSF with L5-S1 interbody fusion without LIF (LS-Only group). All patients had at least 2 years of follow-up. Percutaneous PSF and 3-column osteotomy (3CO) were excluded. Demographics, perioperative details, radiographic spinal deformity measurements, and HRQoL data were analyzed. RESULTS Thirty-two patients were matched (LS+Apex: 16; LS: 16) (6 men, 26 women; mean age 63 ± 10 years). Overall, the average values for measures of deformity were as follows: Cobb angle > 40°, sagittal vertical axis (SVA) > 6 cm, pelvic tilt (PT) > 25°, and mismatch between pelvic incidence (PI) and lumbar lordosis (LL) > 15°. There were no significant intergroup differences in preoperative radiographic parameters, although patients in the LS+Apex group had greater Cobb angles and less LL. Patients in the LS+Apex group had significantly more anterior levels fused (4.6 vs 1), longer operative times (859 vs 379 minutes), and longer length of stay (12 vs 7.5 days) (all p < 0.01). For patients in the LS+Apex group, Cobb angle, pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar lordosis (LL), PI-LL (lumbopelvic mismatch), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain improved significantly (p < 0.05). For patients in the LS-Only group, there were significant improvements in Cobb angle, ODI score, and VAS scores for back and leg pain. The LS+Apex group had better correction of Cobb angles (56% vs 33%, p = 0.02), SVA (43% vs 5%, p = 0.46), LL (62% vs 13%, p = 0.35), and PI-LL (68% vs 33%, p = 0.32). Despite more LS+Apex patients having major complications (56% vs 13%; p = 0.02) and postoperative leg weakness (31% vs 6%, p = 0.07), there were no intergroup differences in 2-year outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Long open posterior instrumented fusion with or without multilevel LIF is used to treat a variety of coronal and sagittal adult thoracolumbar deformities. The addition of multilevel LIF to open PSF with L5-S1 interbody support in this small cohort was often used in more severe coronal and/or lumbopelvic sagittal deformities and offered better correction of major Cobb angles, lumbopelvic parameters, and SVA than posterior-only operations. As these advantages came at the expense of more major complications, more leg weakness, greater blood loss, and longer operative times and hospital stays without an improvement in 2-year outcomes, future investigations should aim to more clearly define deformities that warrant the addition of multilevel LIF to open PSF and L5-S1 interbody fusion.