Readmission rate after adult scoliosis surgery on primary cases over 45 years-old with long term follow-up.

PURPOSE: Scoliosis surgery is becoming increasingly frequent. Rate of readmission is little discussed in the literature. It is an interesting data for the patient's information and for public authorities to calculate cost-effectiveness. Aim of the study was to evaluate rate and causes of short and long-term readmissions in patients > 45 years old operated on for a scoliosis primary cases, then to look for predictors of these readmissions. METHODS: In this monocentric retrospective cohort study, over 45 years-old scoliosis primary cases operated on between 2015 and 2018 and with a minimum of 2 years follow-up were included. The number of readmissions and their causes were analyzed. Rehospitalized patients (RH) were then compared to non-rehospitalized patients (NRH). Risk factors were sought using a multivariate analysis by logistic regression. RESULTS: 105 patients were included (90% female; 64 ± 8 years). 56% were readmitted at least once. Main cause of readmission as pseudarthrosis (70%). Among the RH patients, fifty-eight required at least one revision. We found no significant difference between RH and NRH, apart from the rate of immediate post-operative medical complications which was significantly higher in RH (17% (n = 11) vs. 4% (n = 2), p = 0.04). According to multivariate analysis, BMI and age were found as predictors of readmission of mechanical origin, and BMI for readmissions of septic origin. CONCLUSION: The readmission rate after scoliosis surgery was 56%. The main cause was pseudarthrosis. Rehospitalized patients had more immediate post-operative medical complications. The elderly and overweight patients are more likely to be readmitted for mechanical or septic reasons.

Mechanisms of lumbar spine "flattening" in adult spinal deformity: defining changes in shape that occur relative to a normative population.

PURPOSE: Previous work comparing ASD to a normative population demonstrated that a large proportion of lumbar lordosis is lost proximally (L1-L4). The current study expands on these findings by collectively investigating regional angles and spinal contours. METHODS: 119 asymptomatic volunteers with full-body free-standing radiographs were used to identify age-and-PI models of each Vertebra Pelvic Angle (VPA) from L5 to T10. These formulas were then applied to a cohort of primary surgical ASD patients without coronal malalignment. Loss of lumbar lordosis (LL) was defined as the offset between age-and-PI normative value and pre-operative alignment. Spine shapes defined by VPAs were compared and analyzed using paired t-tests. RESULTS: 362 ASD patients were identified (age = 64.4 ± 13, 57.1% females). Compared to their age-and-PI normative values, patients demonstrated a significant loss in LL of 17 ± 19° in the following distribution: 14.1% had "No loss" (mean = 0.1 ± 2.3), 22.9% with 10°-loss (mean = 9.9 ± 2.9), 22.1% with 20°-loss (mean = 20.0 ± 2.8), and 29.3% with 30°-loss (mean = 33.8 ± 6.0). "No loss" patients' spine was slightly posterior to the normative shape from L4 to T10 (VPA difference of 2°), while superimposed on the normative one from S1 to L2 and became anterior at L1 in the "10°-loss" group. As LL loss increased, ASD and normative shapes offset extended caudally to L3 for the "20°-loss" group and L4 for the "30°-loss" group. CONCLUSION: As LL loss increases, the difference between ASD and normative shapes first occurs proximally and then progresses incrementally caudally. Understanding spinal contour and LL loss location may be key to achieving sustainable correction by identifying optimal and personalized postoperative shapes.

Sex-dependent evolution of whole-body postural alignment with age.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to explore sex-related variations of global alignment parameters and their distinct evolution patterns across age groups. METHODS: This multicentric retrospective study included healthy volunteers with full-body biplanar radiographs in free-standing position. All radiographic data were collected from 3D reconstructions: global and lower limb parameters, pelvic incidence (PI) and sacral slope (SS). Lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK) and cervical lordosis (CL) were also assessed as well as the lumbar and thoracic apex, and thoracolumbar inflexion point. The population was divided into five 5 age groups: Children, Adolescents, Young, Middle-Aged and Seniors. RESULTS: This study included 861 subjects (53% females) with a mean age of 34 ± 17 years. Mean PI was 49.6 ± 11.1 and mean LL was - 57.1 ± 11.6°. Females demonstrated a PI increase between Young and Middle-Aged groups (49 ± 11° vs. 55 ± 12°, p < 0.001) while it remained stable in males. SS and LL increased with age in females while remaining constant in males between Children and Middle-aged and then significantly decreased for both sexes between Middle-Aged and Seniors. On average, lumbar apex, inflexion point, and thoracic apex were located one vertebra higher in females (p < 0.001). After skeletal maturity, males had greater TK than females (64 ± 11° vs. 60 ± 12°, p = 0.04), with significantly larger CL (-13 ± 10° vs. -8 ± 10°, p = 0.03). All global spinal parameters indicated more anterior alignment in males. CONCLUSION: Males present more anteriorly tilted spine with age mainly explained by a PI increase in females between Young and Middle-Aged, which may be attributed to childbirth. Consequently, SS and LL increased before decreasing at senior age.

Revision Strategy for Proximal Junctional Failure: Combined Effect of Proximal Extension and Focal Correction.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of a prospectively-collected multicenter database. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine optimal strategies in terms of focal angular correction and length of proximal extension during revision for PJF. METHODS: 134 patients requiring proximal extension for PJF were analyzed in this study. The correlation between amount of proximal junctional angle (PJA) reduction and recurrence of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and/or PJF was investigated. Following stratification by the degree of PJK correction and the numbers of levels extended proximally, rates of radiographic PJK (PJA >28° & ΔPJA >22°), and recurrent surgery for PJF were reported. RESULTS: Before revision, mean PJA was 27.6° ± 14.6°. Mean number of levels extended was 6.0 ± 3.3. Average PJA reduction was 18.8° ± 18.9°. A correlation between the degree of PJA reduction and rate of recurrent PJK was observed (r = -.222). Recurrent radiographic PJK (0%) and clinical PJF (4.5%) were rare in patients undergoing extension ≥8 levels, regardless of angular correction. Patients with small reductions (<5°) and small extensions (<4 levels) experienced moderate rates of recurrent PJK (19.1%) and PJF (9.5%). Patients with large reductions (>30°) and extensions <8 levels had the highest rate of recurrent PJK (31.8%) and PJF (16.0%). CONCLUSION: While the degree of focal PJK correction must be determined by the treating surgeon based upon clinical goals, recurrent PJK may be minimized by limiting reduction to <30°. If larger PJA correction is required, more extensive proximal fusion constructs may mitigate recurrent PJK/PJF rates.

Full-body Postural Alignment Analysis Through Barycentremetry.

STUDY DESIGN: Multicentric retrospective. OBJECTIVE: The study of center of mass (COM) locations (i.e. barycentremetry) can help us understand postural alignment. This study goal was to determine relationships between COM locations and global postural alignment X-ray parameters in healthy subjects. The second objective was to determine the impact on spinopelvic alignment of increased distance between anterior body envelope and spine at lumbar apex level. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Unexplored relationship between COM location and spinopelvic parameters. METHODS: This study included healthy volunteers with full-body biplanar radiograph including body envelope reconstruction, allowing the estimation of COM location. The following parameters were analyzed: lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), cervical lordosis (CL), pelvic tilt (PT), Sacro-femoral angle (SFA), Knee flexion angle (KFA), sagittal odontoid-hip axis angle (ODHA). The following COM in the sagittal plane were located: whole body, at thoracolumbar inflexion point, and body segment above TK apex. The body envelope reconstruction also provided the distance between anterior skin and the LL apex vertebral body center ("SV-L distance"). RESULTS: This study included 124 volunteers, with a mean age of 44±19.3. Multivariate analysis confirmed posterior translation of COM above TK apex with increasing LL (P=0.002) through its proximal component, and posterior shift of COM at inflexion point with increasing TK (P=0.008). Increased SV-L distance was associated with greater ODHA (r=0.4) and more anterior body COM (r=0.8), caused by increased TK (r=0.2) and decreased proximal and distal LL (both r=0.3), resulting in an augmentation in SFA (r=0.3) (all P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Barycentremetry showed that greater LL was associated with posterior shift of COM above thoracic apex while greater TK was correlated with more posterior COM at inflexion point. Whole-body COM was strongly correlated with ODHA. This study also exhibited significant alignment disruption associated with increased abdominal volume, with compensatory hip extension. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Optimization of radiation doses for open lumbar spinal fusion using C-arm fluoroscopy and impact on radiation-induced cancer: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: Intraoperative fluoroscopy use is essential during spinal fusion procedures. The amount of radiation dose should always be minimized. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of halving the frame rate from 12.5 to 6.25 frames per second (fps) and to quantify the reduction in the risk of developing radiation-induced cancer. METHODS: This pilot study included 34 consecutive patients operated for open lumbar posterolateral fusion (PLF) with or without transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). C-arm modes were changed from half-dose (12.5 frames per second (fps), group I) to quarter-dose (6.25 fps, group II). Age, body mass index, surgical procedure, number of treated levels, and complications were collected. Kerma area product (KAP), cumulative air kerma (CAK), and fluoroscopy time were compared. Effective dose and radiation-induced cancer risk were estimated. RESULTS: Eighteen and 16 patients were, respectively, included in group I and II. Demographic, surgical data, and fluoroscopy time were similar in both groups. However, CAK, KAP, and effective dose were significantly lower in group II, respectively, 0.56 versus 0.41 mGy (p = 0.03), 0.09 versus 0.06 Gy cm2 (p = 0.04), and 0.03 versus 0.02 mSv (p = 0.04). Radiation-induced cancer risk decreased by 47.7% from 1.49 × 10-6 to 7.77 × 10-7 after optimization. No complications were recorded in either group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of setting 6.25 fps for TLIF with and without PLF. By halving the fps, radiation-induced cancer risk could be almost divided by two, without compromising surgical outcome. Finally, after optimization, the risk of developing radiation-induced cancer was less than one in a million.

A comparison of idiopathic scoliosis surgery between teenage years and adulthood.

PURPOSE: Idiopathic scoliosis is an evolutive deformity during patient's life. In case of moderate deformity in a well aligned adolescent, it's a big concern to decide when to do the surgery. Objective of this work was to evaluate and compare clinical, radiological and surgical data of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis operated in childhood (before 20 years) and those operated adults (after 35 years). METHODS: In this retrospective multicenter study, inclusion period extended from 2008 to 2018. Two groups were defined, those operated on before the age of 20 (YAIS), and those operated on after 35 years (OAIS). Demographic, radiographic and surgical data were collected. At follow-up, radiographic data and functional outcomes (VAS, SRS, SF12, Oswestry) were analyzed. Minimum FU was 5 years for young and 2 years for old patients. RESULTS: YAIS group included 364 patients, and OAIS group, 131 patients. In both groups, deformity was important (mean Cobb 63°). Vertebral osteotomies were significantly more frequent, fusions and length of stays were longer for old than young patients. Main Cobb correction was better in young than old (37 ± 10° vs 2 ± 13°, p = 0.03). Functional outcomes were better for young, operated patients than for operated groups after 35 years (SF12 PCS 50 ± 7 vs 39 ± 6, p = 0.02). The same trends were observed at longer follow-up. CONCLUSION: Surgery for idiopathic scoliosis seems to offer a better quality of life and deformity correction when it is performed at adolescence. After 35 years, surgery remains an acceptable therapeutic option, despite higher complication rate.

Influence of pelvic tilt correction on PJK occurrence after adult spinal deformity surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Many risk factors for proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) have been reported in the literature, especially sagittal alignment modifications, but studies on pelvic tilt (PT) variations and its influence on PJK are missing. Aim of this study was to analyze the influence of pelvic tilt correction, after long fusion surgery for ASD patients, on PJK occurrence. METHODS: A monocentric retrospective study was conducted on prospectively collected data, including 76 patients, operated with fusion extending from the thoraco-lumbar junction to the ilium. Radiologic parameters were measured on fullspine standing radiographs preoperatively, postoperatively (<6 months) and at latest follow-up (before revision surgery or >2 years). All parameters were analyzed comparing patients with PJK (group "PJK") and without PJK (group "no PJK"). A further analysis compared patients with low (PT/PI<25th percentile, LowPT group) and high (PT/PI>75th percentile, HighPT group) preoperative pelvic tilt. RESULTS: « PJK ¼ patients had a greater lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis correction (p=0,03 et <0,001 respectively) compared to the "no PJK" patients. Pelvic tilt was significantly lower postoperatively in the "PJK" group (p=0,03). Patients from the HighPT PJK group were significantly more corrected than patients from the HighPT noPJK group (p=0,003). CONCLUSION: Through the analysis of 76 patients, we showed that pelvic tilt did not seem to play a role in the setting of PJK after ASD surgery. Decreasing PT after surgery could be an element to watch out for in patients with PJK risk factors.

Efficacy of single antibiotic therapy versus antibiotic combination in implant-free staphylococcal post-surgical spinal infections: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Post-surgical spinal infections (pSSIs) are a serious complication of spinal surgeries, with Staphylococcus spp. being one of the most prominent bacteria identified. Optimal antimicrobial therapy for staphylococcal spinal infections without spinal implants is not well documented. METHODS: This single center retrospective 7-year observational study described and compared the outcome (treatment failure or mortality rate one year after diagnosis) of 20 patients with staphylococcal-implant-free pSSI treated with single or combination antibiotics. RESULTS: Median duration of treatment was 40 days (IQR 38-42), with 6 days (IQR 5-7) on intravenous antibiotics and 34 days (IQR 30-36) on oral therapy. Four patients (20%) underwent new surgical debridement, all due to surgical failure, and 1 patient died within the first year without significant differences between both treatment group. CONCLUSION: This study raises the possibility of single antibiotic therapy for patients with implant-free post-surgical spinal infections due to Staphylococcus spp.

Does Spinal Surgery in Elderly Patients (Over 80 Years-Old) Lead to More Early Post-Operative Complications Than Lower Limb Prosthetic Surgery?

Purpose: Patients and surgeons may be reluctant on spinal surgery over 80 years old, fearing medical complications despite the possible improvement on quality of life. However, fewer reservations for lower limb prosthetic surgery (LLPS) seem to be arisen in this population. Is spinal surgery after 80 years-old responsible of more complications than lower limb surgery? Methods: The consecutive files of 164 patients over 80 years that had spinal surgery or LLPS were analyzed. The data collected pre-operatively were demographic, clinical and post-operatively the number and types of medical complications and length of stay. Results: The mean number of medical complications was 1.11 ± 0.6 [0-6] for spinal surgery and 1.09 ± 1.0 [0-3] for LLPS, (p = 0,87). The length of stay in orthopedic unit was comparable between the two groups: 10.7 ± 4.9 days [2-36] for SS and 10.7 ± 3.0 days [5-11] for LLPS (p = 0,96). Conclusion: The global rate of peri-operative complications and the length of hospital stay were similar between spinal surgery and lower limb prosthetic surgery. These results may be explained by the rising cooperation between geriatric specialist and surgeons and the development of mini-invasive surgical technics, diminishing the early post-operative complication rates.