Operative Treatment of Severe Scoliosis in Symptomatic Adults: Multicenter Assessment of Outcomes and Complications With Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

Abstract

Background

Few reports focus on adults with severe scoliosis.

Objective

To report surgical outcomes and complications for adults with severe scoliosis.

Methods

A multicenter, retrospective review was performed on operatively treated adults with severe scoliosis (minimum coronal Cobb: thoracic [TH] ≥ 75°, thoracolumbar [TL] ≥ 50°, lumbar [L] ≥ 50°).

Results

Of 178 consecutive patients, 146 (82%; TH = 8, TL = 88, L = 50) achieved minimum 2-yr follow-up (mean age = 53.9 ± 13.2 yr, 92% women). Operative details included posterior-only (58%), 3-column osteotomy (14%), iliac fixation (72%), and mean posterior fusion = 13.2 ± 3.7 levels. Global coronal alignment (3.8 to 2.8 cm, P = .001) and maximum coronal Cobb improved significantly (P ≤.020): TH (84º to 57º; correction = 32%), TL (67º to 35º; correction = 48%), L (61º to 29º; correction = 53%). Sagittal alignment improved significantly (P < .001), most notably for L: C7-sagittal vertical axis 6.7 to 2.5 cm, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch 18º to 3º. Health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) improved significantly (P < .001), most notably for L: Oswestry Disability Index (44.4 ± 20.5 to 26.1 ± 18.3), Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary (30.2 ± 10.8 to 39.9 ± 9.8), and Scoliosis Research Society-22r Total (2.9 ± 0.7 to 3.8 ± 0.7). Minimal clinically important difference and substantial clinical benefit thresholds were achieved in 36% to 75% and 29% to 51%, respectively. Ninety-four (64%) patients had ≥1 complication (total = 191, 92 minor/99 major, most common = rod fracture [13.0%]). Fifty-seven reoperations were performed in 37 (25.3%) patients, with most common indications deep wound infection (11) and rod fracture (10).

Conclusion

Although results demonstrated high rates of complications, operative treatment of adults with severe scoliosis was associated with significant improvements in mean HRQL outcome measures for the study cohort at minimum 2-yr follow-up.

Department

Description

Provenance

Subjects

Lumbar Vertebrae, Thoracic Vertebrae, Humans, Scoliosis, Oxygen Isotopes, Treatment Outcome, Spinal Fusion, Retrospective Studies, Follow-Up Studies, Adult, Aged, Middle Aged, Female, Male

Citation

Published Version (Please cite this version)

10.1093/neuros/nyab352

Publication Info

Buell, Thomas J, Justin S Smith, Christopher I Shaffrey, Han Jo Kim, Eric O Klineberg, Virginie Lafage, Renaud Lafage, Themistocles S Protopsaltis, et al. (2021). Operative Treatment of Severe Scoliosis in Symptomatic Adults: Multicenter Assessment of Outcomes and Complications With Minimum 2-Year Follow-up. Neurosurgery, 89(6). pp. 1012–1026. 10.1093/neuros/nyab352 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/28060.

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Scholars@Duke

Shaffrey

Christopher Ignatius Shaffrey

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

I have more than 25 years of experience treating patients of all ages with spinal disorders. I have had an interest in the management of spinal disorders since starting my medical education. I performed residencies in both orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery to gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire range of spinal disorders. My goal has been to find innovative ways to manage the range of spinal conditions, straightforward to complex. I have a focus on managing patients with complex spinal disorders. My patient evaluation and management philosophy is to provide engaged, compassionate care that focuses on providing the simplest and least aggressive treatment option for a particular condition. In many cases, non-operative treatment options exist to improve a patient’s symptoms. I have been actively engaged in clinical research to find the best ways to manage spinal disorders in order to achieve better results with fewer complications.


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