Postoperative Pulmonary Complications in Complex Pediatric and Adult Spine Deformity: A Retrospective Review of Consecutive Patients Treated at a Single Site in West Africa.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of consecutive series. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of pulmonary complication following complex spine deformity surgery in a low-resourced setting in West Africa. METHODS: Data of 276 complex spine deformity patients aged 3 to 25 years who were treated consecutively was retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups during data analysis based on pulmonary complication status: group 1: yes versus group 2: no. Comparative descriptive and inferential analysis were performed to compare the 2 groups. RESULTS: The incidence of pulmonary complication was 17/276 (6.1%) in group 1. A total of 259 patients had no events (group 2). There were 8 males and 9 females in group 1 versus 100 males and 159 females in group 2. Body mass index was similar in both groups (17.2 vs 18.4 kg/m2, P = .15). Average values (group 1 vs group 2, respectively) were as follows: preoperative sagittal Cobb angle (90.6° vs 88.7°, P = .87.), coronal Cobb angle (95° vs 88.5°, P = .43), preoperative forced vital capacity (45.3% vs 62.0%, P = .02), preoperative FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) (41.9% vs 63.1%, P < .001). Estimated blood loss, operating room time, and surgery levels were similar in both groups. Thoracoplasty and spinal osteotomies were performed at similar rates in both groups, except for Smith-Peterson osteotomy. Multivariate logistic regression showed that every unit increase in preoperative FEV1 (%) decreases the odds of pulmonary complication by 9% (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.98, P = .013). CONCLUSION: The observed 6.1% incidence of pulmonary complications is comparable to reported series. Preoperative FEV1 was an independent predictor of pulmonary complications. The observed case fatality rate following pulmonary complications (17%) highlights the complexity of cases in underserved regions and the need for thorough preoperative evaluation to identify high-risk patients.

The Use of Halo Gravity Traction in the Treatment of Severe Early Onset Spinal Deformity.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Review of Prospective cohort. OBJECTIVE: To describe the feasibility of preoperative halo gravity traction (HGT) with subsequent growing rod/guided growth (GR/GG) placement in early onset spinal deformity (EOSD). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In children with severe EOSD, primary implantation of GR/GG constructs is not always possible. We describe a staged protocol with preoperative HGT followed by GR/GG implantation. METHODS: EOSD patients treated with HGT prior to GR/GG implantation were included. HGT used traction up to 50% body weight for 4 to 29 weeks. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed before and after HGT. Coronal Cobb (CC) and Sagittal Cobb (SC) angles were measured on the Pre-HGT, Post-HGT and 6 week postop x-rays. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included. Average age at GR/GG implantation was 9 years. Most cases (n = 24, 80%) were idiopathic. Most pts had kyphoscoliosis (n = 16, 53.3%). Pre-HGT CC averaged 112 ±â€Š22° and SC averaged 106 ±â€Š26°. CC and SC improved 29% after HGT. There was a significant improvement in body mass index following HGT. CC improved further to 70 ±â€Š14° (36% vs. pre-HGT) and SC to 63 ±â€Š21° (41%) with GR/GG placement. HGT-related complications occurred in nine patients (30%); eight pin site infections, one cranial abscess. Most HGT complications were managed with local pin care and oral antibiotics. Halo revision was required in two pts (6.7%). There was no change in PFTs with HGT (P > 0.05). Averagely, 14 levels were spanned during GR/GG implantation; two patients required vertebral column resection. Surgical complications occurred in nine (30%) patients. At average 16 month follow-up, seven patients (23.3%) required reoperation. CONCLUSION: Preoperative HGT can make severe EOSD curves amenable to GR/GG implantation. HGT results in ∼30% correction with improvement to ∼35-40% following GR/GG. HGT has a 30% complication rate but most are pin-site infections managed with pin-site care and oral antibiotics; 6.7% of patients require revision. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.