Affiliation: | 1.Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,University of California San Francisco,San Francisco,USA;2.Musculoskeletal Division,The George Institute for Global Health,Sydney,Australia;3.Research Department,AOSpine International,Davos,Switzerland;4.Spine Unit, Department of Orthopedic Surgery,Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen,Copenhagen,Denmark;5.Department of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery,University of Virginia,Charlottesville,USA;6.Department of Orthopedic Surgery,Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons,New York,USA;7.Department of Surgery,Toronto Western Hospital,Toronto,Canada;8.Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology,The University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong,China;9.Faculty of Medicine,Acibadem University,Istanbul,Turkey;10.Department of Orthopedic Surgery,National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Medical Center,Sapporo,Japan;11.Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,University of Minnesota,Minneapolis,USA;12.Department of Spine Surgery,The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School,Nanjing,China;13.Department of Orthopedics,Radboud University Medical Center,Nijmegen,The Netherlands |
Abstract: | PurposeEvaluation and surgical management for adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients varies between health care providers. The purpose of this study is to identify appropriateness of specific approaches and management strategies for the treatment of ASD.MethodsFrom January to July 2015, the AOSpine Knowledge Deformity Forum performed a modified Delphi survey where 53 experienced deformity surgeons from 24 countries, rated the appropriateness of management strategies for multiple ASD clinical scenarios. Four rounds were performed: three surveys and a face-to-face meeting. Consensus was achieved with ≥70% agreement.ResultsAppropriate surgical goals are improvement of function, pain, and neural symptoms. Appropriate preoperative patient evaluation includes recording information on history and comorbidities, and radiographic workup, including long standing films and MRI for all patients. Preoperative pulmonary and cardiac testing and DEXA scan is appropriate for at-risk patients. Intraoperatively, appropriate surgical strategies include long fusions with deformity correction for patients with large deformity and sagittal imbalance, and pelvic fixation for multilevel fusions with large curves, sagittal imbalance, and osteoporosis. Decompression alone is inappropriate in patients with large curves, sagittal imbalance, and progressive deformity. It is inappropriate to fuse to L5 in patients with symptomatic disk degeneration at L5–S1.ConclusionsThese results provide guidance for informed decision-making in the evaluation and management of ASD. Appropriate care for ASD, a very diverse spectrum of disease, must be responsive to patient preference and values, and considerations of the care provider, and the healthcare system. A monolithic approach to care should be avoided. |