RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Surgical correction of neuromuscular scoliosis is often a challenging and extensive procedure. Due to this complexity and the high disease burden that these patients carry, per and post-operative complications are not uncommon. The purpose of this study was to systematically review and describe the pooled rates of postoperative complications and analyze risk factors for complications in neuromuscular scoliosis surgery described in the literature in the last ten years. METHODS: A systematic review of the English literature across multiple databases was conducted using search criteria (neuromuscular scoliosis AND complications) and using PRISMA guidelines (Jan 2012-July 2022). Studies with less than 30 patients and follow-up of < 2 years were excluded. Data extraction and meta-analysis were performed using random mode effect. Statistical analysis was conducted using OpenMeta software. Meta-regression analysis was used to detect risk factors (surgical approach, intraoperative time, intraoperative blood loss, preoperative Cobb angle and patient diagnosis) associated with each complication group. Confidence interval (CI) was set at 95%. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria involving 2155 patients. The level of evidence among studies were III (9) and IV (13). The most common primary diagnosis was cerebral palsy (43%) followed by Duchenne muscle dystrophy (20%), myelomeningocele (7.4%), spinal muscle atrophy (7.1%), Rett syndrome (< 2%) and combined other pathologies (20.2%). The pooled incidence rate of wound complications was the highest, amongst all complications, at 13.3% (CI 10.838 to 16.861); closely followed by respiratory complications (11.8%;CI 5.7 to 19.7). Implant failure occurred in 7.1% cases (CI 6.418 to 11.465), gastrointestinal complications was 5.2%; CI 2.4 to 8), pseudarthrosis in (4.6%;CI 2.2 to 6.9) and neurological deficit in 2.9% (CI 1.989 to 6.086). The pooled rate of revision surgery was (9.6%; CI 6.2 to 12.9). Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 test which results were moderately heterogeneous. Meta-regression analysis revealed that the diagnosis of myelomeningocele or Duchenne muscle dystrophy or spinal muscle atrophy were strongly associated with wound and respiratory complications (p = 0.007 and p = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSION: Wound-related (13.3%) and respiratory complications (11.8%) remain the most common complications among studies after corrective surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis. Both are significantly associated with Duchenne muscle dystrophy, spinal muscle atrophy and myelomeningocele.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Children and young adults with neuromuscular disorders have a high incidence of both spine and hip deformities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of either primary scoliosis or hip surgery in children and young adults with neuromuscular disorders. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on all children and young adults with neuromuscular-related synchronous hip subluxation/dislocation and scoliosis undergoing hip or scoliosis surgery in our institution between 2012 and 2021 with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Demographic and operative data were collected; radiological parameters were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at final follow-up. RESULTS: Forty neuromuscular patients with synchronous hip displacement and scoliosis were included. Twenty patients with an average age of10.2 years had hip correction surgery performed primarily, with a mean follow-up of 54.9 (24-96) months. The other 20 patients with an average age of 12.4 years had scoliosis correction first, with a mean follow-up of 40 (24-60) months. In the "Hip first" group, pelvic obliquity, hip MP and Cobb angle were 16.8°, 71%, and 49°, respectively. At final follow-up, the mean pelvic obliquity and Cobb angles significantly progressed to 27.2° (p = 0.003) and 82.2° (p = 0.001), respectively. Eighteen patients (90%) required scoliosis correction after the hip surgery. In the "Scoliosis first" group, the mean pelvic obliquity, hip MP and Cobb angle were 21.2°, 49% and 65.5°, respectively. At final follow-up, both pelvic obliquity and Cobb angle significantly improved to 8.44° (p = 0.002) and 23.4° (p = 0.001), respectively. In 11/20 (55%) patients, the hip MP had significantly increased following the spinal surgery to 62% (p = 0.001), but only 5/20 (25%) patients underwent hip surgery after scoliosis correction. CONCLUSION: In neuromuscular patients presenting with synchronous hip displacement and scoliosis deformity, corrective scoliosis surgery is associated with a significant correction of pelvic obliquity and lower rates of secondary hip surgery. On the other hand, primary hip surgery does not reduce the risk of pelvic obliquity and scoliosis deformity progression.