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Long-term Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy for Fixed Sagittal Imbalance: Does Level of Proximal Fusion Affect the Outcome? Minimum 5-Year Follow-up

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Abstract

Study Design

Retrospective case series of surgically treated adult patients with fixed sagittal imbalance.

Objective

To assess clinical and radiographic changes after pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) to treat adult fixed sagittal imbalance.

Background

Although recent reports have shown favorable clinical outcomes for PSO, few reports have published long-term follow-up outcomes. It is also unknown whether long-term outcomes are correlated with the level of proximal fusion and the radiographic changes that are observed after PSO.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed the charts, X-rays, and postoperative SRS-22 and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores of 32 adult patients who presented with fixed sagittal imbalance and were treated with lumbar PSO. Long fusions were defined as those proximal to T6, and short fusions were defined as those below T8. Measured radiographic parameters included thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope, pelvic incidence, and sagittal balance (SVA). Statistical analysis included Student t test and chi-square test. A p value of <.05 and a confidence interval of 95% were considered statistically significant.

Results

Among the reviewed cases were 23 women and 9 men, with a mean age of 50.9 years (range, 33–76 years) and a mean follow-up 8.6 years (range, 5–16 years). The LL increased from −16.0° preoperatively to −52.1° postoperatively. This metric decreased to −51.0° at final follow-up. The SVA decreased from 10.4 cm preoperatively to 3.6 cm postoperatively. The SVA increased to 5.4 cm at the final follow-up visit. There were 17 long fusions and 15 short fusions. The SRS scores at the final follow-up time point were: total, 3.63; function, 3.59; pain, 3.68; self-image, 3.46; mental health, 3.56; satisfaction, 4.26. A total of 16 patients exhibited minimal disability, 11 exhibited moderate disability, and 2 exhibited severe disability in ODI scores at the final follow-up visit (average, 28.2%). The SRS and ODI scores were not significantly different between groups (p =.64 for SRS; p =.59 for ODI). We observed no significant differences between groups with respect to the LL, sacral slope, or pelvic incidence. The observed increase in SVA at the final follow-up visit was significantly larger in the short fusion group compared with the increase we observed in the long fusion group (p =.03). The thoracic kyphosis (T5–T12) and proximal junctional angle at the final follow-up visit also significantly increased in patients who underwent a short fusion (p <.001). A total of 14 major complications occurred in 12 patients (8 in the short fusion group and 6 in the long fusion group) (p =.43). Eight patients required additional surgery to treat these complications.

Conclusions

In a group of adults presenting with fixed sagittal imbalance, PSO provided good sagittal balance and maintained favorable clinical outcomes in both the short and long fusion groups despite a slight decrease in the SVA and a high complication rate. The data suggest that the loss of sagittal balance may be attributed to increase global and junctional kyphosis in short fusion groups, and should be monitored for long-term outcomes. Particular attention should be paid to the long-term deterioration of the SVA in adults who present with fixed sagittal imbalance after PSO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adult and Pediatric Spine and Scoliosis Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 525 East 72nd Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Mitsuru Yagi MD, PhD, Akilah B. King BA, Matthew E. Cunningham MD, PhD & Oheneba Boachie-Adjei MD

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Mitsuru Yagi MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Mitsuru Yagi MD, PhD
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  2. Akilah B. King BA
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  3. Matthew E. Cunningham MD, PhD
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  4. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitsuru Yagi MD, PhD.

Additional information

Author disclosures: MY (none); ABK (none); MEC (none); OBA (consultancy for K2M and DePuy Spine; payment for lectures from Trans 1 and K2M; royalties from DePuy, Inc. and K2M; payment for the development of educational presentations from DePuy, Inc. and K2M; other financial support from Osteotech, K2M, and DePuy, Inc.).

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Yagi, M., King, A.B., Cunningham, M.E. et al. Long-term Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy for Fixed Sagittal Imbalance: Does Level of Proximal Fusion Affect the Outcome? Minimum 5-Year Follow-up. Spine Deform 1, 123–131 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspd.2013.01.003

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspd.2013.01.003

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