Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to determine whether routine follow-up 5 years after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery is likely to affect postoperative care for patients treated with high-density pedicle screw constructs, when routine 2-year follow-up has been performed.
Methods
We reviewed 80 patients undergoing surgery for AIS using high-density pedicle screw constructs and followed routinely 2 and 5 years after surgery. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the SRS-30 outcome questionnaire. Reoperations occurring between 2 and 5 years after surgery were identified.
Results
Curve correction and QOL were similar between 2- and 5-year visits. Two patients required revision surgery after presenting during unplanned visits between the 2- and 5-year follow-ups. One patient presented at the routine 5-year visit with an asymptomatic undisplaced rod fracture without loss of correction, and it was decided to follow-up only as needed.
Conclusions
In AIS patients for whom routine follow-up 2 years after surgery using high-density pedicle screw constructs was uneventful, additional routine 5-year follow-up is not likely to affect postoperative care and revision rate. Patients developing complications and needing reoperation between 2 and 5 years after surgery will most likely present during unplanned visits rather than during routine follow-up appointments. Easy access to emergent visits on an as-needed basis is therefore important for this population if routine 5-year follow-up is not planned.
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No funding was received for this research. There is no conflict of interest directly related to this research. JMMT, SP and HL are co-founders and board members of Spinologics Inc. RR and JJ have no competing interests associated with this work.
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Mac-Thiong, JM., Remondino, R., Joncas, J. et al. Long-term follow-up after surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using high-density pedicle screw constructs: Is 5-year routine visit required?. Eur Spine J 28, 1296–1300 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-05887-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-05887-5