The proper selection of the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) remains controversial in the surgical treatment of Scheuermann's disease and there is a paucity of studies investigating the clinical outcomes of fusion surgery when selecting the vertebra one level proximal to the sagittal stable vertebra (SSV-1) as LIV. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether SSV-1 could be a valid LIV for Scheuermann kyphosis (SK) patients with different curve patterns.
The proper selection of the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) remains controversial in the surgical treatment of Scheuermann's disease and there is a paucity of studies investigating the clinical outcomes of fusion surgery when selecting the vertebra one level proximal to the sagittal stable vertebra (SSV-1) as LIV. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether SSV-1 could be a valid LIV for Scheuermann kyphosis (SK) patients with different curve patterns. This was a prospective study on consecutive SK patients treated with posterior surgery between January 2018 and September 2020, in which the distal fusion level ended at SSV-1. The LIV was selected at SSV-1 only in patients with Risser \> 2 and with LIV translation less than 40mm. All of the patients had a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Patients were further grouped based on the sagittal curve pattern as thoracic kyphosis (TK) and thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK). Radiographic parameters including global kyphosis (GK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), LIV translation, pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS) were measured preoperatively, postoperatively and at the latest follow-up. The intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 scores were performed to evaluate clinical outcomes.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
74
The surgeries were performed by the same surgical team. Multi-level Ponte osteotomies were performed across the apex of the kyphosis after complete exposure of the spine, with resection of supra- and inter-spinous ligaments, ligamentum flavum, and the whole facet joints. After placement of the pedicle screws at the expected fusion levels, pre-contoured rods were attached to the screws followed by segmental compression. During rod placement, two to three rounds of compression in the area with Ponte osteotomies were employed to enhance kyphosis correction. Satellite rods were routinely added to long rods and implanted with duet screws. The final tightening was performed, and the posterior fusion was completed with a mixture of local and allogeneic bone. Due attention was given to preserving the posterior ligamentous structures at the upper and lower junctional areas.
Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Global kyphosis (GK) in degrees
Measured on anteroposterior and lateral radiographs and defined as the angle from upper to lower most tilted end vertebrae.
Time frame: 24 months
Lumbar lordosis (LL) in degrees
Measured on anteroposterior and lateral radiographs and defined as the angle between the the superior end plate of L1 and S1
Time frame: 24 months
Sagittal vertical axis (SVA) in millimeters
Measured on anteroposterior and lateral radiographs and defined as the horizontal distance between C7PL and the posterior superior corner of sacrum.
Time frame: 24 months
Rates of distal junctional kyphosis
record the incidence of the distal junctional kyphosis at the last follow-up. Distal junctional kyphosis was defined as a distal junctional angle ≥10˚, or a distal junctional angle ≥ 10˚ than the preoperative measurement
Time frame: 24 months
Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 questionnaire
The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22 questionnaire is adopted to assess the patient-reported outcomes. The overall score can range from 22 to 110 points, and higher scores reflect better health status.
Time frame: 24 months
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