Impact of adult spinal deformity corrective surgery in patients with the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a 5-year follow-up report.

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is reported as one of the symptoms of adult spinal deformity (ASD). Little is known about the mid- to long-term improvement in GERD symptoms after ASD surgery. Therefore, this retrospective study from prospectively collected database aimed to investigate GERD symptoms in patients for a minimum of 2years after ASD corrective surgery. Records from 230 patients (mean age: 64years) who underwent ASD surgery were examined using the frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG) questionnaires for the diagnosis of GERD. FSSG scores and radiographic parameters were investigated preoperatively and postoperatively at 6months and 1, 2, and 5years. In total, 90 (39%) patients were preoperatively diagnosed with GERD defined by FSSG score ≥ 8 points. Radiographic results showed that the corrective surgeries improved local and global alignments. In the GERD patients, preoperative FSSG scores (16.1 ± 7.3 points) significantly improved to 7.7 ± 7.4 points within 6months postoperatively (p < 0.001), and postoperative FSSG scores maintained at 1year (9.9 ± 8.2 points, p = 0.061), 2years (9.7 ± 8.2 points, p = 0.086), and 5years (9.4 ± 8.0 points, p = 0.177). Among the GERD group, 62 patients (69%; improvement cases) showed improvement in GERD symptoms defined by FSSG score < 8 points within 6months postoperatively. Among ASD patients, 39% were diagnosed with GERD. In 69% of these patients, GERD symptoms improved within 6months of corrective surgery and maintained up to 5years postoperatively. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.