Applying the ICF model in adult spinal deformity: disability in terms of participation should be incorporated in the care pathway.

PURPOSE: To investigate the participation restriction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients, and its relation with the impairments in body structure and function, and activity limitation, as this important information regarding the individual's perspective on the social impact of the disease on their life is presently not captured. METHODS: Forty-three ASD patients participated in the study and completed the impact on participation and autonomy (IPA) questionnaire to assess the level of participation. Activity limitations and impairments were measured with the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and Scoliosis Research Society-22r (SRS-22). Also, age, body height, body weight, BMI, Mini-mental state examination and Cumulative Illness Rating Scale were assessed. A univariate linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between the IPA and the independent variables, whereas a multivariate analysis identified the significant predictive variables for the IPA questionnaire. RESULTS: The univariate analysis identified performance on the BESTest and SRS-22 as significantly (p < 0.001) related to the IPA questionnaire. The multiple regression analysis revealed that the performance on BESTest (p = 0.073) and SRS-22 (p < 0.001) independently predicted the IPA questionnaire, explaining 73.5% of its variance. CONCLUSION: To fully understand the impact of ASD on the individual's functioning, disability and health-status, it is suggested that questionnaires on participation to society should be considered, together with clinical postural tests (e.g. the BESTest) and questionnaires related to HRQOL (e.g. the SRS-22), in the ASD care path. This additional information should allow the surgeon to make a more informed selection of surgical patients.

The Transverse Gravitational Deviation Index, a Novel Gravity Line-Related Spinal Parameter, Relates to Balance Control and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults With Spinal Deformity.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional case-control study design. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the relation between balance control as well as health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD), with a novel gravity line (GL)-related 3D spinal alignment parameter, the transverse gravitational deviation index (TGDI), defined to quantify the transverse plane position of any vertebra with respect to the GL. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Demographic data and balance control have both been identified as important determinants of HRQOL in ASD patients during a preoperative setting. Therefore, a better understanding of the relation between spinal alignment and balance is required. METHODS: After informed consent, 15 asymptomatic healthy volunteers (mean age 60.1 ±â€Š11.6 years old) and 55 ASD patients (mean age 63.5 ±â€Š10.1 years old) were included. Relation between performance on BESTest as well as core outcome measures index (COMI) with spinopelvic alignment was explored using General Linear Modeling (GLM). A P-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The L3 TGDI was identified to relate to balance control in the total ASD population after correction for confounding demographic factors (P = 0.001; adjusted R = 0.500) and explained 19% of the observed variance in balance performance. In addition, COMI is related to L3 TGDI in a subgroup of ASD patients with combined coronal and sagittal malalignment of L3 (P = 0.027; slope B = 0.047), despite significant influence of age (P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: In ASD patients with a combined coronal and sagittal malalignment of the L3 vertebra, both the level of balance impairment as well as HRQOL are related to the distance component of the L3 TGDI, that is, the offset between the center of the L3 vertebral body and the GL in the transverse plane. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Performance on Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) Impacts Health-Related Quality of Life in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective single-center study. OBJECTIVE: Study investigates how dynamic balance performance complements 2D static radiographic measurements and demographics in terms of understanding health-related quality of life in adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Recent insights suggest that demographic variables have a stronger impact on health-related quality of life than 2D radiographic spinopelvic parameters in ASD patients. METHODS: Nine healthy volunteers and 36 ASD patients following inclusion criteria were recruited. Demographics, Scoliosis Research Society Score-22r (SRS-22r), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI), 2D radiographic spinopelvic measurements, and performance on Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), and Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) were determined for each subject. Nonparametric tests, Spearman correlations, univariate, and stepwise-like linear multivariate regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: BESTest and TCMS had significant lower values in the ASD group versus the control group (P = 0.000). In the ASD group, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) correlated fair to ODI, COMI (0.441 ≥ r ≥ 0.383, P < 0.021) and to SRS-22-r (r = -0.335, P = 0.046), Mini Mental State Examination correlated fair to COMI (r = -0.352, P = 0.035), "Pelvic Incidence minus Lumbar Lordosis" correlated fair to ODI (r = 0.361, P = 0.031), BESTest correlated moderate to ODI and COMI (r ≤ -0.505; P ≤ 0.002), TCMS correlated fair to ODI (r = -0.356; P = 0.033). CIRS and BESTest were significant predictive variables for COMI based on univariate analysis in ASD patients. Multivariate regression analysis including demographics, 2D static radiographic parameters, and dynamic balance scales identified BESTest as single independent variable (P = 0.000) to predict COMI (adjusted R = 0.285) in ASD patients. CONCLUSION: BESTest has a higher potential than demographic and 2D radiographic spinopelvic parameters to predict quality of life in ASD patients. Further research is necessary to identify the impact of ASD on quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.