scholarly journals Significance of various risk factors for proximal junctional kyphosis and instability of instrumentation in surgical treatment for adult spinal deformities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-23
Author(s):  
I. V. Basankin ◽  
D. A. Ptashnikov ◽  
S. V. Masevnin ◽  
A. A. Afaunov ◽  
A. A. Giulzatyan ◽  
...  

Objective. To analyze the significance of the influence of various risk factors on the development of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and instability of instrumentation.Material and Methods. The results of surgical treatment of 382 patients with scoliotic deformities of the lumbar spine of type I and IIIb according to Aebi were analyzed. Patients were operated on through the posterior approach using the TLIF-PLIF technique with extended rigid transpedicular instrumentation. Potential risk factors influencing the development of proximal junctional kyphosis and instability of instrumentation were analyzed.Results. It was found that only three risk factors significantly affect the development of PJK: correction of lumbar lordosis more than 30° (p = 0.036) increases the likelihood of its development by 1.5 times, osteoporosis (p = 0.001) – by 2.5 times, and proximal junctionalangle ≥10° (p = 0.001) – by 3.5 times. Three factors showed a statistically significant effect on the incidence of instrumentation instability: correction of lumbar lordosis more than 30° (p = 0.034) increases the likelihood of its occurrence by 1.7 times, osteoporosis (p = 0.018) – by 1.8 times, and deviation of the sagittal vertical axis by more than 50 mm (p = 0.001) – by 3.3 times.Conclusion. The most significant risk factors for the occurrence of PJK and instability of instrumentation are osteoporosis, correction of lumbar lordosis more than 30°, an increase in the proximal junctional angle ≥10°, and an anterior deviation of sagittal vertical axis more than 50 mm. Consideration of these factors in the preoperative period, as well as during surgery, can decrease likelihood of the occurrence of PJK and instability of instrumentation.

Author(s):  
Francis Lovecchio ◽  
Renaud Lafage ◽  
Jonathan Charles Elysee ◽  
Alex Huang ◽  
Bryan Ang ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE Supine radiographs have successfully been used for preoperative planning of lumbar deformity corrections. However, they have not been used to assess thoracic flexibility, which has recently garnered attention as a potential contributor to proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK). The purpose of this study was to compare supine to standing radiographs to assess thoracic flexibility and to determine whether thoracic flexibility is associated with PJK. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted of a single-institution database of patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Sagittal alignment parameters were compared between standing and supine and between pre- and postoperative radiographs. Thoracic flexibility was determined as the change between preoperative standing thoracic kyphosis (TK) and preoperative supine TK, and these changes were measured over the overall thoracic spine and the fused portion of the thoracic spine (i.e., TK fused). A case-control analysis was performed to compare thoracic flexibility between patients with PJK and those without (no PJK). The cohort was also stratified into three groups based on thoracic flexibility: kyphotic change (increased TK), lordotic change (decreased TK), and no change. The PJK rate was compared between the cohorts. RESULTS A total of 101 patients (mean 63 years old, 82.2% female, mean BMI 27.4 kg/m2) were included. Preoperative Scoliosis Research Society–Schwab ASD classification showed moderate preoperative deformity (pelvic tilt 27.7% [score ++]; pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis mismatch 44.6% [score ++]; sagittal vertical axis 42.6% [score ++]). Postoperatively, the average offset from age-adjusted alignment goals demonstrated slight overcorrection in the study sample (−8.5° ± 15.6° pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis mismatch, −29.2 ± 53.1 mm sagittal vertical axis, −5.4 ± 10.8 pelvic tilt, and −7.6 ± 11.7 T1 pelvic angle). TK decreased between standing and supine radiographs and increased postoperatively (TK fused: −25.3° vs −19.6° vs −29.9°; all p < 0.001). The overall rate of radiographic PJK was 23.8%. Comparisons between PJK and no PJK demonstrated that offsets from age-adjusted alignment goals were similar (p > 0.05 for all). There was a significant difference in the PJK rate when stratified by thoracic flexibility cohorts (kyphotic: 0.0% vs no change: 18.4% vs lordotic: 35.0%; p = 0.049). Logistic regression revealed thoracic flexibility (p = 0.045) as the only independent correlate of PJK. CONCLUSIONS Half of patients with ASD experienced significant changes in TK during supine positioning, a quality that may influence surgical strategy. Increased thoracic flexibility is associated with PJK, possibly secondary to fusing the patient’s spine in a flattened position intraoperatively.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianhao Wang ◽  
Yongfei Zhao ◽  
Yan Liang ◽  
Haocong Zhang ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this paper was to analyze the incidence and risk factors of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who underwent pedicle subtraction osteotomy.METHODSThe records of 83 patients with AS and thoracolumbar kyphosis who underwent surgery at the authors’ institution between 2007 and 2013 were reviewed. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of PJK. The radiographic measurements, including proximal junctional angle (PJA), sagittal parameters, and pelvic parameters of these 2 groups, were compared at different time points: before surgery and 2 weeks, 12 months, and 2 years after surgery. Oswestry Disability Index scores were also evaluated.RESULTSOverall, 14.5% of patients developed PJK. Before surgery, the mean PJAs in the 2 groups were 13.6° and 8.5°, respectively (p = 0.008). There were no significant differences in age, sex, and body mass index between groups. Patients with PJK had a larger thoracolumbar kyphotic angle (50.8° ± 12.6°) and a greater sagittal vertical axis (21.7 ± 4.3 cm) preoperatively than those without PJK. The proportion of patients with PJK whose fusion extended to the sacrum was 41.2% (7/17), which is significantly greater than the proportion of patients with PJK whose lowest instrumented vertebra was above the sacrum. Oswestry Disability Index scores did not significantly increase in the PJK group compared with the non-PJK group.CONCLUSIONSThe authors found that PJK occurs postoperatively in patients with AS with an incidence of 14.5%. Risk factors of PJK include larger preoperative sagittal vertical axis, PJA, and osteotomy angle. Reducing the osteotomy angle in some severe cases and extending fusion to a higher, flatter level would be also beneficial in decreasing the risk of PJK.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Jo Kim ◽  
Philip J. York ◽  
Jonathan C. Elysee ◽  
Christopher Shaffrey ◽  
Douglas C. Burton ◽  
...  

Study Design: Retrospective case series. Objective: Compensatory changes above a proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) have not been defined. Understanding these mechanisms may help determine optimal level selection when performing revision for PJK. This study investigates how varying PJK location changes proximal spinal alignment. Methods: Patients were grouped by upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV): lower thoracic (LT; T8-L1) or upper thoracic (UT; T1-7). Alignment parameters were compared. Correlation analysis was performed between PJK magnitude and global/cervical alignment. Results: A total of 369 patients were included; mean age of 63 years, body mass index 28, and 81% female, LT (n = 193) versus UT (n = 176). The rate of radiographic PJK was 49%, higher in the LT group (55% vs 42%, P = .01). The UT group displayed significant differences in all cervical radiographic parameters ( P < .05) between PJK versus non-PJK patients, while the LT group displayed significant differences in T1S and C2-T3 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) (CTS). In comparing UT versus LT patients, UT had more posterior global alignment (smaller TPA [T1 pelvic angle], SVA, and larger PT [pelvic tilt]) and larger anterior cervical alignment (greater cSVA [cervical SVA], T1S-CL [T1 slope–cervical lordosis] mismatch, CTS) compared to LT. Correlation analysis of PJK magnitude and location demonstrated a correlation with increases in CL, T1S, and CTS in the UT group. In the LT group, PT increased with PJK angle ( r = 0.17) and no significant correlations were noted to SVA, cSVA, or T1S-CL. Conclusions: PJK location influences compensation mechanisms of the cervical and thoracic spine. LT PJK results in increased PT and CL with decreased CTS. UT PJK increases CL to counter increases in T1S with continued T1S-CL mismatch and elevated cSVA.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Se-Jun Park ◽  
Chong-Suh Lee ◽  
Sung-Soo Chung ◽  
Jun-Young Lee ◽  
Sang-Soo Kang ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND: The failure modes, time to development, and clinical relevance are known to differ between proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and proximal junctional failure (PJF). However, there are no reports that study the risk factors of PJK and PJF separately. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for PJK and PJF separately. METHODS: A retrospective study of 160 consecutive patients who underwent a long instrumented fusion to the sacrum for adult spinal deformity with a minimum follow-up of 2 years was conducted. A separate survivorship analysis of PJK and PJF was performed using the Cox proportional hazards model for the 3 categorical parameters of surgical, radiographic, and patient factors. RESULTS: PJK developed in 27 patients (16.9%) and PJF in 29 patients (18.1%). The median survival time was 17.0 months for PJK and 3.0 months for PJF. Multivariate analyses revealed that a high body mass index was an independent risk factor for PJK (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.179), whereas the significant risk factors for PJF were older age, the presence of osteoporosis, the uppermost instrumented vertebra level at T11-L1, and a greater preoperative sagittal vertical axis (HR = 1.082, 6.465, 5.236, and 1.017, respectively). A large correction of sagittal deformity was shown to be a risk factor for PJF on univariate analyses, but not on multivariate analyses. CONCLUSION: PJK developed at a median of 17 months and PJF at a median of 3 months. A high body mass index was an independent risk factor for PJK, whereas older age, osteoporosis, uppermost instrumented vertebra level at the thoracolumbar junction, and greater preoperative sagittal vertical axis were risk factors for PJF.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Praveen V. Mummaneni ◽  
Paul Park ◽  
Kai-Ming Fu ◽  
Michael Y. Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND: Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is a known complication after spinal deformity surgery. One potential cause is disruption of posterior muscular tension band during pedicle screw placement. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) on PJK. METHODS: A multicenter database of patients who underwent deformity surgery was propensity matched for pelvic incidence (PI) to lumbar lordosis (LL) mismatch and change in LL. Radiographic PJK was defined as proximal junctional angle &gt;10°. Sixty-eight patients made up the circumferential MIS (cMIS) group, and 68 were in the hybrid (HYB) surgery group (open screw placement). RESULTS: Preoperatively, there was no difference in age, body mass index, PI-LL mismatch, or sagittal vertical axis. The mean number of levels treated posteriorly was 4.7 for cMIS and 8.2 for HYB (P &lt; .001). Both had improved LL and PI-LL mismatch postoperatively. Sagittal vertical axis remained physiological for the cMIS and HYB groups. Oswestry Disability Index scores were significantly improved in both groups. Radiographic PJK developed in 31.3% of the cMIS and 52.9% of the HYB group (P = .01). Reoperation for PJK was 4.5% for the cMIS and 10.3% for the HYB group (P = .20). Subgroup analysis for patients undergoing similar levels of posterior instrumentation in the cMIS and HYB groups found a PJK rate of 48.1% and 53.8% (P = .68) and a reoperation rate of 11.1% and 19.2%, respectively (P = .41). Mean follow-up was 32.8 months. CONCLUSION: Overall rates of radiographic PJK and reoperation for PJK were not significantly decreased with MIS pedicle screw placement. However, a larger comparative study is needed to confirm that MIS pedicle screw placement does not affect PJK.


2021 ◽  
pp. 219256822110156
Author(s):  
Zhuo Xi ◽  
Ping-Guo Duan ◽  
Praveen V. Mummaneni ◽  
Jinping Liu ◽  
Jeremy M.V. Guinn ◽  
...  

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objective: Overcorrection in adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery may lead to proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) because of posterior spinal displacement. The aim of this paper is to determine if the L1 position relative to the gravity line (GL) is associated with PJK. Methods: ASD patients fused from the lower thoracic spine to sacrum by 4 spine surgeons at our hospital were retrospectively studied. Lumbar-only and upper thoracic spine fusions were excluded. Spinopelvic parameters, the L1 plumb line (L1PL), L1 distance to the GL (L1-GL), and Roussouly type were measured. Results: One hundred fourteen patients met inclusion criteria (63 patients with PJK, 51 without). Mean age and follow up was 65.51 and 3.39 years, respectively. There was no difference between the PJK and the non-PJK groups in baseline demographics, pre-operative and immediate post-operative pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch, sagittal vertical axis, or coronal Cobb. The immediate postoperative L1-GL was -7.24 cm in PJK and -3.45 cm in non-PJK ( P < 0.001), L1PL was 1.71 cm in PJK and 3.07 cm in non-PJK ( P = 0.004), and PT (23.76° vs 18.90°, P = 0.026) and TK (40.56° vs 31.39°, P < 0.001) were larger in PJK than in non-PJK. After univariate and multivariate analyses, immediate postoperative TK and immediate postoperative L1-GL were independent risk factors for PJK without collinearity. Conclusions: A dorsally displaced L1 relative to the GL was associated with an increased risk of PJK after ASD surgery. The postoperative L1-GL distance may be a factor to consider during ASD surgery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-219
Author(s):  
Sebastian Decker ◽  
Renaud Lafage ◽  
Christian Krettek ◽  
Robert Hart ◽  
Christopher Ames ◽  
...  

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.Purpose: To investigate the role of sacral extension (SE) for the development of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) in adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery.Overview of Literature: The development of PJK is multifactorial and different risk factors have been identified. Of these, there is some evidence that SE also affects the development of PJK, but data are insufficient. Methods: Using a combined database comprising two propensity-matched groups of fusions following ASD surgery, one with fixation to S1 or S1 and the ilium (SE) and one without SE but with a lower instrumented vertebra of L5 or higher (lumbar fixation, LF), PJK and the role of further parameters were analyzed. The propensity-matched variables included age, the upper-most instrumented vertebra (UIV), preoperative sagittal alignment, and the baseline to one year change of the sagittal alignment.Results: Propensity matching led to two groups of 89 patients each. The UIV, pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, pelvic tilt, age, and body mass index were similar in both groups (<i>p</i> >0.05). The incidence of PJK at postoperative one year was similar for SE (30.3%) and LF (22.5%) groups (<i>p</i> =0.207). The PJK angle was comparable (<i>p</i> =0.963) with a change of −8.2° (SE) and −8.3° (LF) from the preoperative measures (<i>p</i> =0.954). A higher rate of PJK after SE (<i>p</i> =0.026) was found only in the subgroup of patients with UIV levels between T9 and T12.Conclusions: Instrumentation to the sacrum with or without iliac extension did not increase the overall risk of PJK. However, an increased risk for PJK was found after SE with UIV levels between T9 and T12.


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