Reciprocal change of sagittal profile in unfused spinal segments and lower extremities after complex adult spinal deformity surgery including spinopelvic fixation: a full-body X-ray analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND CONTEXTFew studies have described reciprocal changes of pathologic compensatory mechanisms in the setting of spinopelvic fixation using full-body radiograph. PURPOSETo elucidate how sagittal alignment of unfused spinal segments and lower extremities change reciprocally following complex thoracolumbar realignment surgery including fusion to the sacrum in adult spinal deformity. STUDY DESIGNRetrospective cohort. PATIENT SAMPLEThirty-four patients who underwent fusion from lower thoracic to the sacrum/pelvis and 49 patients with fusion from upper thoracic to the sacrum/pelvis. OUTCOME MEASURESThe postoperative sagittal alignment change, and the correlation between the instrumented spinopelvic alignment change and reciprocal changes in unfused spinal segments/lower extremities. MATERIALS/METHODSThis study included 34 patients who underwent fusion from lower thoracic to the sacrum/pelvis (LT-P group) and 49 patients with fusion from upper thoracic to the sacrum/pelvis (UT-P group). The postoperative sagittal alignment changes were evaluated after subdividing the two groups according to T1 pelvic angle (TPA) (aligned group: TPA<20 and malaligned group: TPA>20). The correlation between the instrumented spinopelvic alignment change (ΔTPA and ΔLL), reciprocal changes in unfused spinal segments and lower extremities, and the cranial sagittal vertical axis-hip/ankle change (ΔCrSVA-Hip/Ankle) were also analyzed. RESULTSAt the baseline in both LT-P and UT-P groups, the patients in the malaligned subgroups showed greater C2–7 lordosis (C2–7L), sacrofemoral angle (SFA), and knee flexion angle (KA) than those in the aligned subgroups. At average 7.1 months postoperatively, these compensatory mechanisms were restored in accordance with instrumented TPA/LL change, especially in the UT-P group. The mid-thoracic alignment changed significantly kyphotic in the LT-P group. ΔTPA and ΔLL linearly correlated with ΔC2–7L, ΔKA, and ΔAA in the malaligned patients. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that change in lower extremity parameters (ΔSFA, ΔKA, and ΔAA) independently impacted ΔCrSVA-Hip/Ankle. CONCLUSIONAdequate thoracolumbar realignment surgery results in restoration of the pathologic compensatory mechanisms in the unfused spinal segments and lower extremities, especially in patients fused from upper thoracic spine. A preoperative clinical evaluation of the lower limb joints, as well as a full-body radiographic evaluation, is paramount to achieve optimal global sagittal balance in thoracolumbar realignment surgery.