Perioperative complications and risk factors of one-stage posterior vertebral column resection for severe spinal deformity

Abstract

Objective To investigate the perioperative complications and risk factors of one-stage posterior vertebral column resection (VCR) for severe spinal deformity.Methods From September 2004 to July 2012,39 patients with severe and fixed spinal deformity underwent one-stage posterior VCR,including 15 males and 24 females,aged from 3 to 53 years (average,16.9 years).There were 24 cases of kyphoscoliosis (mean coronal Cobb angle:85.1°,mean sagittal Cobb angle:92.9°),7 cases of scoliosis (mean coronal Cobb angle:81.1°),and 8 cases of kyphosis (mean sagittal Cobb angle:94.4°).Eleven patients had neurological compromise.The perioperative complications and related risk factors of 39 patients were retrospectively analyzed.Results All patients were followed up for 3 to 72 months (average,29.4 months).There were 15cases (13 patients) of perioperative complications.Neurological complications occurred in 6 patients (15.4％),among whom one patient presented complete paraplegia after surgery and 5 patients presented transient paresthesia or muscle weakness.Adults had a significantly higher incidence of neurological complications than teenagers.The incidence rate of neurological complications was 36.4％ in patients with preoperative neurological compromise,while 7.1％ in patients without preoperative neurological compromise.All patients with postoperative neurological complications had kyphosis before operation,and the incidence of neurological complications increased significantly in patients with severe kyphosis (Cobb angle ≥90°).Prolonged respiratory support was conducted in 4 cases.Rupture of the parietal pleura occurred in 3 cases (7.7％),cerebrospinal fluid leak in 1 case (2.6％),and pulmonary infection in 1 case (2.6％).Conclusion One-stage posterior VCR is effective in the treatment of severe and rigid spinal deformity.However,the perioperative complications,especially the neurological complications are common.The risk factors of neurological complications include preoperative neurological compromise,degree of kyphosis and the age of patients. Key words: Scoliosis; Kyphosis; Intraoperative complications; Risk factors