Background: Recent studies have evaluated the correlation of health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores with radiographic parameters. This relationship may provide insight into the connection of ...patient-reported disability and disease burden caused by cervical diagnoses.
Purpose: To evaluate the association between spinopelvic sagittal parameters and HRQLs in patients with primary cervical diagnoses.
Methods: Patients ≥18 years meeting criteria for primary cervical diagnoses. Cervical radiographic parameters assessed cervical sagittal vertical axis, TS-CL, chin-to-brow vertical angle, C2-T3, CL, C2 Slope, McGregor's slope. Global radiographic alignment parameters assessed PT, SVA, PI-LL, T1 Slope. Pearson correlations were run for all combinations at baseline (BL) and 1 year (1Y) for continuous BL and 1Y modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA) scores, as well as decline or improvement in those HRQLs at 1Y. Multiple linear regression models were constructed to investigate BL and 1Y alignment parameters as independent variables.
Results: Ninety patients included 55.6 ± 9.6 years, 52% female, 30.7 ± 7kg/m2. By approach, 14.3% of patients underwent procedures by anterior approach, 56% posterior, and 30% had combined approaches. Average anterior levels fused: 3.6, posterior: 4.8, and mean total number of levels fused: 4.5. Mean operative time for the cohort was 902.5 minutes with an average estimated blood loss of 830 ccs. The mean BL neck disability index (NDI) score was 56.5 and a mJOA of 12.81. While BL NDI score correlated with gender (P = 0.050), it did not correlate with BL global or cervical radiographic factors. An increased NDI score at 1Y postoperatively correlated with BL body mass index (P = 0.026). A decreased NDI score was associated with 1Y T12-S1 angle (P = 0.009) and 1Y T10 L2 angle (P = 0.013). Overall, BL mJOA score correlated with the BL radiographic factors of T1 slope (P = 0.005), cervical lordosis (P = 0.001), C2-T3 (P = 0.008), C2 sacral slope (P = 0.050), SVA (P = 0.010), and CL Apex (P = 0.043), as well as gender (P = 0.050). Linear regression modeling for the prior independent variables found a significance of P = 0.046 and an R2 of 0.367. Year 1 mJOA scores correlated with 1Y values for maximum kyphosis (P = 0.043) and TS-CL (P = 0.010). At 1Y, a smaller mJOA score correlated with BL S1 sacral slope (P = 0.014), pelvic incidence (P = 0.009), L1-S1 (P = 0.012), T12-S1 (P = 0.008). The linear regression model for those 4 variables demonstrated an R2 of 0.169 and a P = 0.005. An increased mJOA score correlated with PI-LL difference at 1Y (P = 0.012), L1-S1 difference (P = 0.036), T12-S1 difference (0.006), maximum lordosis (P = 0.026), T9-PA difference (P = 0.010), and difference of T4-PA (P = 0.008).
Conclusions: While the impact of preoperative sagittal and cervical parameters on mJOA was strong, the BL radiographic factors did not impact NDI scores. PostOp HRQL was significantly associated with sagittal parameters for mJOA (both worsening and improvement) and NDI scores (improvement). When cervical surgery has been indicated, radiographic alignment is important for postoperative HRQL.
Background Context: Cervical deformity (CD) correction is becoming more challenging and complex. Understanding the factors that drive optimal outcomes has been understudied in CD correction surgery.
...Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the factors associated with improved outcomes (IO) following CD surgery.
Study Design/Setting: Retrospective review of a single-center database.
Patient Sample: Sixty-one patients with CD.
Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes measured were radiographic and clinical "IO" or "poor outcome" (PO). Radiographic IO or PO was assessed utilizing Schwab pelvic tilt (PT)/sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and Ames cervical SVA (cSVA)/TS-CL. Clinical IO or PO was assessed using MCID EQ5D, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and/or improvement in Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association Scale (mJOA) modifier. The secondary outcomes assessed were complication and reoperation rates.
Materials and Methods: CD patients with data available on baseline (BL) and 1-year (1Y) radiographic measures and health-related quality of life s were included in our study. Patients with reoperations for infection were excluded. Patients were categorized by IO, PO, or not. IO was defined as "nondeformed" radiographic measures as well as improved clinical outcomes. PO was defined as "moderate or severe deformed" radiographic measures as well as worsening clinical outcome measures. Random forest assessed ratios of predictors for IO and PO. The categorical regression models were utilized to predict BL regional deformity (Ames cSVA, TS-CL, horizontal gaze), BL global deformity (Schwab PI-LL, SVA, PT), regional/global change (BL to 1Y), BL disability (mJOA score), and BL pain/function impact outcomes.
Results: Sixty-one patients met inclusion criteria for our study (mean age of 55.8 years with 54.1% female). The most common surgical approaches were as follows: 18.3% anterior, 51.7% posterior, and 30% combined. Average number of levels fused was 7.7. The mean operative time was 823 min and mean estimated blood loss was 1037 ml. At 1 year, 24.6% of patients were found to have an IO and 9.8% to have a PO. Random forest analysis showed the top 5 individual factors associated with an "IO" were: BL Maximum Kyphosis, Maximum Lordosis, C0-C2 Angle, L4-Pelvic Angle, and NSR Back Pain (80% radiographic, 20% clinical). Categorical IO regression model (R2 = 0.328, P = 0.007) found following factors to be significant: low BL regional deformity (β = ‒0.082), low BL global deformity (β = ‒0.099), global improve (β = 0.532), regional improve (β = 0.230), low BL disability (β = 0.100), and low BL NDI (β = 0.024). Random forest found the top 5 individual BL factors associated with "PO" (80% were radiographic): BL CL Apex, DJK angle, cervical lordosis, T1 slope, and NSR neck pain. Categorical PO regression model (R2 = 0.306, P = 0.012) found following factors to be significant: high BL regional deformity (β = ‒0.108), high BL global deformity (β = ‒0.255), global decline (β = 0.272), regional decline (β = 0.443), BL disability (β = ‒0.164), and BL severe NDI (>69) (β = 0.181).
Conclusions: The categorical weight demonstrated radiographic as the strongest predictor of both improved (global alignment) and PO (regional deformity/deterioration). Radiographic factors carry the most weight in determining an improved or PO and can be ultimately utilized in preoperative planning and surgical decision-making to optimize the outcomes.
Background: Patients with symptomatic cervical deformity (CD) requiring surgical correction often present with hyperkyphosis (HK), although patients with hyperlordotic curves may require surgery as ...well. Few studies have investigated differences in CD corrective surgery with regard to HK and hyperlordosis (HL).
Objective: The objective of the study is to evaluate patterns in treatment for CD patients with baseline (BL) HK and HL and understand how extreme curvature of the spine may influence surgical outcomes.
Materials and Methods: Operative CD patients with BL and 1-year (1Y) radiographic data were included in the study. Patients were stratified based on BL C2-C7 lordosis (CL) angle: those >1 standard deviation (SD) from the mean (−6.96 ± 21.47°) were hyperlordotic (>14.51°) or hyperkyphotic (<−28.43°) depending on directionality. Patients within 1SD were considered control group.
Results: 102 surgical CD patients (61 years, 65% F, 30 kg/m2) with BL and 1Y radiographic data were included. 20 patients met definitions for HK and 21 patients met definitions for HL. No differences in demographics or disability were noted. HK had higher estimated blood loss (EBL) with anterior approaches than HL but similar EBL with posterior approach. Operative time did not differ between groups. Control, HL, and HK groups differed in BL TS-CL (36.6° vs. 22.5° vs. 60.7°, P < 0.001) and BL-SVA (10.8 vs. 7.0 vs. −47.8 mm, P = 0.001). HL patients had less discectomies, less corpectomies, and similar osteotomy rates to HK. HL had 3x revisions of HK and controls (28.6 vs. 10.0 vs. 9.2%, respectively, P = 0.046). At 1Y, HL patients had higher cSVA and trended higher SVA and SS than HK. In terms of BL-upper cervical alignment, HK patients had higher McGregor's slope (MGS) (16.1° vs. 3.3°, P = 0.002) and C0-C2 Cobb (43.3° vs. 26.9°, P < 0.001), however, postoperative differences in MGS and C0-C2 were not significant. HK drivers of deformity were primarily C (90%), whereas HL had primary CT (38.1%), UT (23.8%), and C (14.3%) drivers.
Conclusions: Hyperlodotic patients trended higher revision rates with greater radiographic malalignment at 1-year postoperative, perhaps due to undercorrection compared to kyphotic etiologies.
Background: Age-adjusted alignment targets in the context of distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) development have yet to be investigated. Our aim was to assess age-adjusted alignment targets, reciprocal ...changes, and role of lowest instrumented level orientation in DJK development in cervical deformity (CD) patients.
Methods: CD patients were evaluated based on lowest fused level: cervical (C7 or above), upper thoracic (UT: T1-T6), and lower thoracic (LT: T7-T12). Age-adjusted alignment targets were calculated using published formulas for sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (PI-LL), pelvic tilt (PT), T1 pelvic angle (TPA), and LL-thoracic kyphosis (TK). Outcome measures were cervical and global alignment parameters: Cervical SVA (cSVA), cervical lordosis, C2 slope, C2-T3 angle, C2-T3 SVA, TS-CL, PI-LL, PT, and SVA. Subanalysis matched baseline PI to assess age-adjusted alignment between DJK and non-DJK.
Results: Seventy-six CD patients included. By 1Y, 20 patients developed DJK. Non-DJK patients had 27% cervical lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV), 68% UT, and 5% LT. DJK patients had 25% cervical, 50% UT, and 25% LT. There were no baseline or 1Y differences for PI, PI-LL, SVA, TPA, or PT for actual and age-adjusted targets. DJK patients had worse baseline cSVA and more severe 1Y cSVA, C2-T3 SVA, and C2 slope (P < 0.05). The distribution of over/under corrected patients and the offset between actual and ideal alignment for SVA, PT, TPA, PI-LL, and LL-TK were similar between DJK and non-DJK patients. DJK patients requiring reoperation had worse postoperative changes in all cervical parameters and trended toward larger offsets for global parameters.
Conclusion: CD patients with severe baseline malalignment went on to develop postoperative DJK. Age-adjusted alignment targets did not capture differences in these populations, suggesting the need for cervical-specific goals.
Introduction: Osteotomies are commonly performed to correct sagittal malalignment in cervical deformity (CD). However, the risks and benefits of performing a major osteotomy for cervical deformity ...correction have been understudied. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate the risks and benefits of performing a major osteotomy for CD correction.
Methods: Patients stratified based on major osteotomy (MAJ) or minor (MIN). Independent t-tests and Chi-squared tests were used to assess differences between MAJ and MIN. A sub-analysis compared patients with flexible versus rigid CL.
Results: 137 CD patients were included (62 years, 65% F). 19.0% CD patients underwent a MAJ osteotomy. After propensity score matching for cSVA, 52 patients were included. About 19.0% CD patients underwent a MAJ osteotomy. MAJ patients had more minor complications (P = 0.045), despite similar surgical outcomes as MIN. At 3M, MAJ and MIN patients had similar NDI, mJOA, and EQ5D scores, however by 1 year, MAJ patients reached MCID for NDI less than MIN patients (P = 0.003). MAJ patients with rigid deformities had higher rates of complications (79% vs. 29%, P = 0.056) and were less likely to show improvement in NDI at 1 year (0.95 vs. 0.54, P = 0.027). Both groups had similar sagittal realignment at 1 year (all P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Cervical deformity patients who underwent a major osteotomy had similar clinical outcomes at 3-months but worse outcomes at 1-year as compared to minor osteotomies, likely due to differences in baseline deformity. Patients with rigid deformities who underwent a major osteotomy had higher complication rates and worse clinical improvement despite similar realignment at 1 year.
Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate which neurologic complications affect clinical outcomes the most following cervical deformity (CD) surgery.
Methods: CD patients (C2-C7 Cobb ...>10°, CL >10°, cSVA >4 cm or chin-brow vertical angle >25°) >18 years with follow-up surgical and health-related quality of life (HRQL) data were included. Descriptive analyses assessed demographics. Neurologic complications assessed were C5 motor deficit, central neurodeficit, nerve root motor deficits, nerve sensory deficits, radiculopathy, and spinal cord deficits. Neurologic complications were classified as major or minor, then: intraoperative, before discharge, before 30 days, before 90 days, and after 90 days. HRQL outcomes were assessed at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Integrated health state (IHS) for the neck disability index (NDI), EQ5D, and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) were assessed using all follow-up time points. A subanalysis assessed IHS outcomes for patients with 2Y follow-up.
Results: 153 operative CD patients were included. Baseline characteristics: 61 years old, 63% female, body mass index 29.7, operative time 531.6 ± 275.5, estimated blood loss 924.2 ± 729.5, 49% posterior approach, 18% anterior approach, 33% combined. 18% of patients experienced a total of 28 neurologic complications in the postoperative period (15 major). There were 7 radiculopathy, 6 motor deficits, 6 sensory deficits, 5 C5 motor deficits, 2 central neurodeficits, and 2 spinal cord deficits. 11.2% of patients experienced neurologic complications before 30 days (7 major) and 15% before 90 days (12 major). 12% of neurocomplication patients went on to have revision surgery within 6 months and 18% within 2 years. Neurologic complication patients had worse mJOA IHS scores at 1Y but no significant differences between NDI and EQ5D (0.003 vs. 0.873, 0.458). When assessing individual complications, central neurologic deficits and spinal cord deficit patients had the worst outcomes at 1Y (2.6 and 1.8 times worse NDI scores, P = 0.04, no improvement in EQ5D, 8% decrease in EQ5D). Patients with sensory deficits had the best NDI and EQ5D outcomes at 1Y (31% decrease in NDI, 8% increase in EQ5D). In a subanalysis, neurologic patients trended toward worse NDI and mJOA IHS outcomes (P = 0.263, 0.163).
Conclusions: 18% of patients undergoing CD surgery experienced a neurologic complication, with 15% within 3 months. Patients who experienced any neurologic complication had worse mJOA recovery kinetics by 1 year and trended toward worse recovery at 2 years. Of the neurologic complications, central neurologic deficits and spinal cord deficits were the most detrimental.
This abstract has been previously published as part of the IMAST proceedings. For full access to the abstract, please visit the following URL: ...https://www.srs.org/Files/IMAST/IMAST2024/Documents/IMAST24-Final-v6-4web.pdf.
Background: For cervical deformity (CD) surgery, goals include realignment, improved patient quality of life, and improved clinical outcomes. There is limited research identifying patients most ...likely to achieve all three.
Objective: The objective is to create a model predicting good 1-year postoperative realignment, quality of life, and clinical outcomes following CD surgery using baseline demographic, clinical, and radiographic factors.
Methods: Retrospective review of a multicenter CD database. CD patients were defined as having one of the following radiographic criteria: Cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA) >4 cm, cervical kyphosis/scoliosis >10°° or chin-brow vertical angle >25°. The outcome assessed was whether a patient achieved both a good radiographic and clinical outcome. The primary analysis was stepwise regression models which generated a dataset-specific prediction model for achieving a good radiographic and clinical outcome. Model internal validation was achieved by bootstrapping and calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of the final model with 95% confidence intervals.
Results: Seventy-three CD patients were included (61.8 years, 58.9% F). The final model predicting the achievement of a good overall outcome (radiographic and clinical) yielded an AUC of 73.5% and included the following baseline demographic, clinical, and radiographic factors: mild-moderate myelopathy (Modified Japanese Orthopedic Association >12), no pedicle subtraction osteotomy, no prior cervical spine surgery, posterior lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) at T1 or above, thoracic kyphosis >33°°, T1 slope <16 and cSVA <20 mm.
Conclusions: Achievement of a positive outcome in radiographic and clinical outcomes following surgical correction of CD can be predicted with high accuracy using a combination of demographic, clinical, radiographic, and surgical factors, with the top factors being baseline cSVA <20 mm, no prior cervical surgery, and posterior LIV at T1 or above.
Background: To optimize quality of life in patients with cervical deformity (CD), there may be alignment targets to be prioritized.
Objective: To prioritize the cervical parameter targets for ...alignment.
Methods: Included: CD patients (C2-C7 Cobb >10°°, C2-C7 lordosis CL >10°°, cSVA > 4 cm, or chin-brow vertical angle >25°°) with full baseline (BL) and 1-year (1Y) radiographic parameters and Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores; patients with cervical (C) or cervicothoracic (CT) Primary Driver Ames type. Patients with BL Ames classified as low CD for both parameters of cSVA (<4 cm) and T1 slope minus CL (TS-CL) (<15°°) were excluded. Patients assessed: Meeting Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for NDI (<−15 ΔNDI). Ratios of correction were found for regional parameters categorized by Primary Ames Driver (C or CT). Decision tree analysis assessed cut-offs for differences associated with meeting NDI MCID at 1Y.
Results: Seventy-seven CD patients (62.1 years, 64%F, 28.8 kg/m2). 41.6% met MCID for NDI. A backward linear regression model including radiographic differences as predictors from BL to 1Y for meeting MCID for NDI demonstrated an R2 = 0.820 (P = 0.032) included TS-CL, cSVA, MGS, C2SS, C2-T3 angle, C2-T3 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), CL. By primary Ames driver, 67.5% of patients were C, and 32.5% CT. Ratios of change in predictors for MCID NDI patients for C and CT were not significant between the two groups (P > 0.050). Decision tree analysis determined cut-offs for radiographic change, prioritizing in the following order: ≥42.5° C2-T3 angle, >35.4° CL, <−31.76° C2 slope, <−11.57 mm cSVA, <−2.16° MGS, >−30.8 mm C2-T3 SVA, and ≤−33.6° TS-CL.
Conclusions: Certain ratios of correction of cervical parameters contribute to improving neck disability. Prioritizing these radiographic alignment parameters may help optimize patient-reported outcomes for patients undergoing CD surgery.
Introduction: Patients with symptomatic cervical deformity (CD) requiring surgical correction often present with hyperkyphosis (HK), though patients with hyperlordotic curves may require surgery as ...well. Few studies have investigated differences in CD-corrective surgery with regards to HK and hyperlordosis (HL).
Materials and Methods: Operative CD patients (C2-C7 Cobb >10°, cervical lordosis CL >10°, cervical sagittal vertical axis cSVA >4 cm, chin-brow vertical angle >25°) with baseline (BL) and 1Y radiographic data. Patients were stratified based on BL C2-7 lordosis (CL) angle: those >1 standard deviation (SD) from the mean (−6.96° ±21.47°) were hyperlordotic (>14.51°) or hyperkyphotic (≤28.43°) depending on directionality. Patients within 1 SD were considered the control group.
Results: One hundred and two surgical CD pts (61 years, 65%F, 30 kg/m2) with BL and 1Y radiographic data were included. Twenty pts met definitions for HK and 21 pts met definitions for HL. No differences in demographics or disability were noted. HK had higher estimated blood loss (EBL) with anterior approaches than HL but similar EBL with the posterior approach. Op-time did not differ between groups. Control, HL, and HK groups differed in BL TS-CL (36.6° vs. 22.5° vs. 60.7°, P < 0.001) and BL-sagittal vertical axis (SVA) (10.8 vs. 7.0 vs. −47.8 mm, P = 0.001). HL pts had less discectomies, less corpectomies, and similar osteotomy rates to HK. HL had × 3 revisions of HK and controls (28.6 vs. 10.0 vs. 9.2%, respectively, P = 0.046). At 1Y, HL pts had higher cSVA, and trended higher SVA and SS than HK. In terms of BL-upper cervical alignment, HK pts had higher McGregor's-slope (16.1° vs. −3.3°, P = 0.001) and C0-C2 Cobb (43.3° vs. 26.9°, P < 0.001), however postoperative differences in McGregor's slope and C0-C2 were not significant. HK drivers of deformity were primarily C (90%), whereas HL had primary computed tomography (38.1%), upper thoracic (23.8%), and C (14.3%) drivers.
Conclusions: Hyperlodotic patients trended higher revision rates with greater radiographic malalignment at 1Y postoperative, perhaps due to undercorrection compared to kyphotic etiologies.
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