Reliability and validity of non-radiographic methods of thoracic kyphosis measurement: A systematic review

BackgroundA wide array of instruments are available for non-invasive thoracic kyphosis measurement. Guidelines for selecting outcome measures for use in clinical and research practice recommend that properties such as validity and reliability are considered. This systematic review reports on the reliability and validity of non-invasive methods for measuring thoracic kyphosis.MethodsA systematic search of 11 electronic databases located studies assessing reliability and/or validity of non-invasive thoracic kyphosis measurement techniques. Two independent reviewers used a critical appraisal tool to assess the quality of retrieved studies. Data was extracted by the primary reviewer. The results were synthesized qualitatively using a level of evidence approach.Results27 studies satisfied the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The reliability, validity and both reliability and validity were investigated by sixteen, two and nine studies respectively. 17/27 studies were deemed to be of high quality. In total, 15 methods of thoracic kyphosis were evaluated in retrieved studies. All investigated methods showed high (ICC ≥ .7) to very high (ICC ≥ .9) levels of reliability. The validity of the methods ranged from low to very high.ConclusionThe strongest levels of evidence for reliability exists in support of the Debrunner kyphometer, Spinal Mouse and Flexicurve index, and for validity supports the arcometer and Flexicurve index. Further reliability and validity studies are required to strengthen the level of evidence for the remaining methods of measurement. This should be addressed by future research.     

L5 incidence: an important parameter for spinopelvic balance evaluation in high-grade spondylolisthesis

Background

In high-grade spondylolisthesis (HGSPL), the pelvic incidence (PI) is not a reliable measurement because of doming of the sacrum. Measurement of L5 incidence (L5I) was described as a tool to measure pelvic morphology in HGSPL and for surgical follow-up.

Prevalence and related clinical factors of thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum—a computed tomography-based cross-sectional study

Background Text

Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF) is an uncommon pathology, but it may sometimes grow and cause serious neurologic manifestations. Little has been demonstrated yet about the epidemiology and etiology of TOLF.

Thoracic kyphosis and ventilatory dysfunction in unselected older persons: an epidemiological study in Dicomano, Italy

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether kyphosis is associated with ventilatory dysfunction in older community dwellers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The unselected population of Dicomano, Italy aged>or=65 years. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 323 nonheart failure participants underwent clinical evaluation for the presence of kyphosis and spirometry. The severity of kyphosis was estimated from the difference between standing stature and knee-height-derived stature and from the occiput-wall distance. MEASUREMENTS: Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and prevalence of obstructive and restrictive ventilatory pattern. RESULTS: The 130 kyphotic participants (40.2%) had an adjusted 2.5 prevalence odds ratio (POR) for dyspnea (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.1-5.8). FVC% and FEV1% were lower in the presence of kyphosis (P<.01); their deficit was proportional to kyphosis severity. The ventilatory dysfunction was underestimated when reference spirometric parameters were calculated based on standing stature, compared with knee-height derived stature. Of the kyphotic participants, 56.2%, 26.9%, and 16.9% had spirometric normal, obstructive, and restrictive patterns, respectively. Kyphosis was associated with a restrictive (adjusted POR=2.3, 95% CI=1.1-4.8; P=.021) and an obstructive ventilatory pattern (adjusted POR=3.3, 95% CI=1.7-6.5; P<.001). CONCLUSION: In unselected older persons, kyphosis is associated with dyspnea and ventilatory dysfunction of a restrictive and an obstructive type. Kyphosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea and ventilatory dysfunction in the elderly.     

一期后路经椎弓根“蛋壳”技术治疗青少年先天性半椎体畸形的疗效分析

目的评价一期后路经椎弓根"蛋壳"技术半椎体切除治疗青少年先天性半椎体畸形的临床疗效。方法 2009-03-2013-05,一期后路经椎弓根"蛋壳"技术半椎体切除治疗青少年先天性半椎体畸形患者11例,评价Cobb角矫正情况、融合情况、临床疗效、手术并发症。结果无内固定断裂脱出,均获得骨性融合,无明显矫正丢失。侧凸Cobb角由术前平均平均(45.3±14.5)°矫正到术后平均(17.2±7.4)°,平均矫正28.1°,矫正率62.0%。后凸Cobb角由术前平均(39.6±8.4)°矫正到术后平均(16.2±8.2)°,平均矫正23.4°,矫正率40.9%。侧凸、后凸Cobb角手术前后比较均有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论一期后路经椎弓根"蛋壳"技术治疗青少年半椎体畸形,融合率高,并发症少,是一种较好的治疗方法。     

一期后路手术治疗儿童先天性腰骶椎后凸合并脊髓畸形

[目的]探讨儿童先天性腰骶椎后凸合并脊髓畸形一期脊髓圆锥松解、后路顶椎切除椎弓根钉腰骨盆内固定治疗的可行性及临床疗效。[方法]手术步骤包括椎弓根钉固定腰椎、骶椎或髂骨翼,松解圆锥,后路切除顶椎,加压矫正后凸并自体骨加异体骨植骨融合。[结果]5例患儿后凸及神经症状逐渐加重。全部病例合并脊髓纵裂脊髓空洞脊髓低位栓系,固定1～3个腰椎节段。术前后凸Cobb角52°～91°,平均76°,术后Cobb角后凸15°～30°,平均22°,校正率63%～80%,平均71%。手术时间225～390分,平均300min,出血300～600ml,平均420ml。随访时间24～52个月,平均32个月。1例术后短暂神经症状加重,随访时5例神经症状均较术前好转,3例恢复明显。[结论]一期脊髓圆锥松解后路顶椎切除椎弓根钉腰骨盆内固定治疗先天性腰骶椎后凸合并脊髓畸形短期随访疗效好,手术可导致神经症状短暂加重。治疗越早效果越好,并发症越少。     

Clinical Outcomes and Complications after Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy for Fixed Sagittal Imbalance Patients : A Long-Term Follow-Up Data

Objective

Clinical, radiographic, and outcomes assessments, focusing on complications, were performed in patients who underwent pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) to assess correction effectiveness, fusion stability, procedural safety, neurological outcomes, complication rates, and overall patient outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed data obtained from 13 consecutive PSO-treated patients presenting with fixed sagittal imbalances from 1999 to 2006. A single spine surgeon performed all operations. The median follow-up period was 73 months (range 41-114 months). Events during perioperative course and complications were closely monitored and carefully reviewed. Radiographs were obtained and measurements were done before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at the most recent follow-up examinations. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index and subjective satisfaction evaluation.

Results

Following surgery, lumbar lordosis increased from -14.1° ± 20.5° to -46.3° ± 12.8° (p < 0.0001), and the C7 plumb line improved from 115 ± 43 mm to 32 ± 38 mm (p < 0.0001). There were 16 surgery-related complications in 8 patients; 3 intraoperative, 3 perioperative, and 10 late-onset postoperative. The prevalence of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) was 23% (3 of 13 patients). However, clinical outcomes were not adversely affected by PJK. Intraoperative blood loss averaged 2,984 mL. The C7 plumb line values and postoperative complications were closely correlated with clinical results.

Conclusion

Intraoperative or postoperative complications are relatively common following PSO. Most late-onset complications in PSO patients were related to PJK and instrumentation failure. Correcting the C7 plumb line value with minimal operative complications seemed to lead to better clinical results.     

Surgical management of posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Spine trauma is relatively common, and each year approximately 10,000 to 17,000 people in the United States will sustain a spinal cord injury and approximately 150,000 to 160,000 will fracture their spinal column. Posttraumatic spinal deformity is a common potential complication of spinal injury and poses one of the greatest challenges in spinal surgery. PURPOSE: To provide a comprehensive and current review of posttraumatic deformity focusing on the epidemiology, clinical and radiographical presentation, treatment options, and prognosis. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A thorough review of the English literature on the management of posttraumatic deformity was performed. Pertinent articles were identified by using PubMed and a review of publications by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. METHODS: Each article was reviewed, and findings were analyzed to formulate a concise review of current treatment methods for posttraumatic deformity. RESULTS: Successful treatment of posttraumatic deformity is dependent on careful patient selection and appropriate surgical intervention, which should be considered in the presence of significant or increasing deformity, increasing back and/or leg pain, "breakdown" at levels above or below the deformity, pseudarthrosis or malunion, and increasing neurological deficit. The goals of surgery should be to decompress the neural elements if neurological claudication or a neurological deficit is present, to recreate normal sagittal contours and balance, and to optimize the chances for successful fusion; these goals can be achieved through an all-anterior, all-posterior, or a combined anterior/posterior approach assuming that close attention is paid to using the appropriate bone-grafting techniques, selecting technically sound segmental instrumentation, and providing appropriate biomechanical environment for maintenance of correction and successful fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Posttraumatic spinal deformity is a common complication of spinal injury, and it is therefore essential for patients with vertebral column injuries to have a careful initial evaluation, close follow-up, and early intervention when needed. Once posttraumatic deformity is present, successful outcome is achievable assuming a thorough, systematic, and technically well-executed surgical intervention is performed.     

牵引结合后路手术治疗重度脊柱侧凸的疗效分析

[目的]探讨Halo-股骨髁上牵引结合后路矫形对柔韧性30%～40%的重度脊柱侧凸患者的疗效.[方法]对2000年1月～2006年6月治疗的41例柔韧性30%～40%重度脊柱侧凸患者,按照是否行牵引治疗分为两组.牵引组A组 22例,主侧凸平均Cobb' s角91.2°;对照组B组 19例,主侧凸平均Cobb' s角87.5°.[结果]两组无严重神经系统并发症.A组平均牵引18 d(14～22 d)后主侧凸平均矫正46%,14例肺功能减退患者均改善.两组均行一期后路松解三维矫形术,术后C7～S1偏移值、顶椎偏移矫正A组优于B组.A组主侧凸平均矫正55.2°,B组45.7°,A组优于B组 (P<0.05). A组平均随访40个月, B组平均随访42个月,末次随访两组平均冠状面矫正丢失分别为3°、2.4°,矢状面无丢失,两组均获骨性融合.[结论]对于柔韧性30%～40%的重度脊柱侧凸,术前Halo-股骨髁上牵引可改善肺功能,结合牵引下后路松解矫形术可以获得更好的畸形矫正和躯干平衡,减少术中术后并发症. )后主侧凸平均矫正46%,14例肺功能减退患者均改善.两组均行一期后路松解三维矫形术,术后C_7～S_1偏移值、顶椎偏 矫正A组优于B组.A组主侧凸平均矫正55.2°,B组45.7°,A组优于B组 (P<0.05). A组平均随访40个月, B组平均随访42个月,末次随访两组平均冠状面矫正丢失分别为3°、2.4°,矢状面无丢失,两组均获骨性融合.[结论]对于柔韧性30%～40%的重度脊柱侧凸,术前Halo-股骨髁上牵引可改善肺功能,结合牵引下后路松解矫形术可以获得更好的畸形矫正和躯干平衡,减少术中术后并发症. )后主侧凸平均矫正46%,14例肺功能减退患者均改善.两组均行一期后路松解三     

胸腰椎骨折后路手术后后凸趋势的研究

目的探讨胸腰椎骨折后路手术后,脊柱迟发后凸畸形以及患椎楔变趋势和原因。方法随访并回顾了1975年1月-2007年12月在宁夏医科大学附属医院骨科治疗的43例胸腰椎骨折患者,分成两组,第一组为椎弓根钉内固定组,第二组为保守治疗组,分别测量受伤时、术后即刻、术后1年、术后2年、随访时患椎的椎体楔变角、上下终板角。结果手术后椎弓根钉组各项指标均恢复,但在随访时各项指标又有不同程度的丢失,术前脊柱后凸（上下终板角）平均为19.5°、术后平均为8.6°、随访时平均为20°;术前患椎楔变角平均为20.7°、术后平均为9.1°、最后1次随访时平均为15.9°。保守治疗组在不同阶段随访时各项指标较受伤时均下降。结论胸腰椎骨折后路椎弓根钉固定术远期仍存在患椎高度丢失、椎体楔变,在2年后达到受伤时水平并保持稳定,脊柱后凸成角畸形是一个进行性的过程。