Rapidly Progressive Myelopathy Caused by Aggressive Vertebral Hemangioma

Introduction. Vertebral hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors of the spine, having an incidence of 10-12% in the general population. They are asymptomatic, incidental findings in the vast majority of patients; however, in rare cases, they can expand to cause neural compression. Aggressive lesions of this sort are most commonly found in the thoracic spine, and expansion leads to the subacute development of myelopathy. Case Report. The authors report a rare case of aggressive vertebral hemangioma at the T1 vertebral body which caused rapidly progressive myelopathy over the course of 7 days. Clinical and radiological findings are shown as well as surgical management of the lesion. The patient regained the ability to ambulate, and there was no evidence of disease recurrence at 2-year follow-up. Conclusions. Although aggressive vertebral hemangiomas are a rare cause of myelopathy, they must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of cord compressive lesions. In this case, contrary to most, the expansion of the hemangioma led to rapid development of neurological decline necessitating urgent surgical intervention

Is frailty responsive to surgical correction of adult spinal deformity? An investigation of sagittal re-alignment and frailty component drivers of postoperative frailty status.

PURPOSE: Frailty has been associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. Recently, a novel frailty index for preoperative risk stratification in patients with adult spinal deformity was developed. Components of the ASD-FI utilize patient comorbidity, clinical symptoms, and patient-reported-outcome-measures (PROMS). Our purpose was to investigate components of the Adult Spinal Deformity Frailty Index (ASD-FI) responsive to surgery and drivers of overall frailty. METHODS: Operative ASD patients ≥ 18 years, undergoing multilevel fusions, with complete baseline, 6 W, 1Y and 2Y ASD-FI scores. Descriptive analysis assessed demographics, radiographic parameters, and surgical details. Pearson bivariate correlations, independent and paired t tests assessed postoperative changes to ASD-FI components, total score, and radiographic parameters. Linear regression models determined the effect of successful surgery (achieving lowest level SRS-Schwab classification modifiers) on change in ASD-FI total scores. RESULTS: 409 6-week, 696 1-year, and 253 2-year operative ASD patients were included. 6-week and 1-year baseline frailty scores were 0.34, 2 years was 0.38. Following surgery, 6-week frailty was 0.36 (p = 0.033), 1 year was 0.25 (p \u3c 0.001), and 2 years was 0.28 (p \u3c 0.001). Of the ASD-FI variables, 17/40 improved at 6 weeks, 21/40 at 1 year, and 18/40 at 2 years. Successful surgery significantly predicted decreases in 1-year frailty scores (R = 0.27, p \u3c 0.001), SRS-Schwab SVA modifier was the greatest predictor (Adjusted Beta: - 0.29, p \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in sagittal realignment and functional status correlated with improved postoperative frailty. Additional research and deformity sub-group analyses are needed to describe associations between specific functional activities that correlated with frailty improvement as well as evaluation of modifiable and non-modifiable indices

Changes in health-related quality of life measures associated with degree of proximal junctional kyphosis.

PURPOSE: To explore the changes in health-related quality of life parameters observed in patients experiencing varying degrees of proximal junctional kyphosis following corrective adult spinal deformity fusions. METHODS: Inclusion: adult spinal deformity patients \u3e 18 y/o, undergoing spinal fusion. PJK: ≥ 10° measure of the sagittal Cobb angle between the inferior endplate of the UIV and the superior endplate of the UIV + 2. Severe PJK: \u3e 28° PJK. Mild PJK: ≥ 10 RESULTS: 969 patients (age: 64.5 y/o,75% F, posterior levels fused:12.3) were studied. 59% no PJK, 32% mild PJK, 9% severe PJK. No differences in HRQoLs were seen between no PJK and PJK groups at baseline, one year, and 2 years. Adjusted analysis revealed Severe PJK patients improved less in SRS-22 Satisfaction (NoPJK: 1.6, MildPJK: 1.6, SeverePJK: 1.0; p = 0.022) scores at 2 years. Linear regression analysis only found clinical improvement in SRS-22 Satisfaction to correlate with the change of the PJK angle by 2 years (R = 0.176, P = 0.008). No other HRQoL metric correlated with either the incidence of PJK or the change in the PJK angle by one or 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: These results maintain that patients presenting with and without proximal junctional kyphosis report similar health-related qualities of life following corrective adult spinal deformity surgery, and SRS-22 Satisfaction may be a clinical correlate to the degree of PJK. Rather than proving proximal junctional kyphosis to have a minimal clinical impact overall on HRQoL metrics, these data suggest that future analysis of this phenomenon requires different assessments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level of evidence: III

The impact of postoperative neurologic complications on recovery kinetics in cervical deformity surgery.

Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate which neurologic complications affect clinical outcomes the most following cervical deformity (CD) surgery. Methods: CD patients (C2-C7 Cobb \u3e10°, CL \u3e10°, cSVA \u3e4 cm or chin-brow vertical angle \u3e25°) \u3e18 years with follow-up surgical and health-related quality of life (HRQL) data were included. Descriptive analyses assessed demographics. Neurologic complications assessed were C5 motor deficit, central neurodeficit, nerve root motor deficits, nerve sensory deficits, radiculopathy, and spinal cord deficits. Neurologic complications were classified as major or minor, then: intraoperative, before discharge, before 30 days, before 90 days, and after 90 days. HRQL outcomes were assessed at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Integrated health state (IHS) for the neck disability index (NDI), EQ5D, and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) were assessed using all follow-up time points. A subanalysis assessed IHS outcomes for patients with 2Y follow-up. Results: 153 operative CD patients were included. Baseline characteristics: 61 years old, 63% female, body mass index 29.7, operative time 531.6 ± 275.5, estimated blood loss 924.2 ± 729.5, 49% posterior approach, 18% anterior approach, 33% combined. 18% of patients experienced a total of 28 neurologic complications in the postoperative period (15 major). There were 7 radiculopathy, 6 motor deficits, 6 sensory deficits, 5 C5 motor deficits, 2 central neurodeficits, and 2 spinal cord deficits. 11.2% of patients experienced neurologic complications before 30 days (7 major) and 15% before 90 days (12 major). 12% of neurocomplication patients went on to have revision surgery within 6 months and 18% within 2 years. Neurologic complication patients had worse mJOA IHS scores at 1Y but no significant differences between NDI and EQ5D (0.003 vs. 0.873, 0.458). When assessing individual complications, central neurologic deficits and spinal cord deficit patients had the worst outcomes at 1Y (2.6 and 1.8 times worse NDI scores, Conclusions: 18% of patients undergoing CD surgery experienced a neurologic complication, with 15% within 3 months. Patients who experienced any neurologic complication had worse mJOA recovery kinetics by 1 year and trended toward worse recovery at 2 years. Of the neurologic complications, central neurologic deficits and spinal cord deficits were the most detrimental

The impact of postoperative neurologic complications on recovery kinetics in cervical deformity surgery.

ObjectiveThe objective of the study is to investigate which neurologic complications affect clinical outcomes the most following cervical deformity (CD) surgery.MethodsCD patients (C2-C7 Cobb >10°, CL >10°, cSVA >4 cm or chin-brow vertical angle >25°) >18 years with follow-up surgical and health-related quality of life (HRQL) data were included. Descriptive analyses assessed demographics. Neurologic complications assessed were C5 motor deficit, central neurodeficit, nerve root motor deficits, nerve sensory deficits, radiculopathy, and spinal cord deficits. Neurologic complications were classified as major or minor, then: intraoperative, before discharge, before 30 days, before 90 days, and after 90 days. HRQL outcomes were assessed at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Integrated health state (IHS) for the neck disability index (NDI), EQ5D, and modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) were assessed using all follow-up time points. A subanalysis assessed IHS outcomes for patients with 2Y follow-up.Results153 operative CD patients were included. Baseline characteristics: 61 years old, 63% female, body mass index 29.7, operative time 531.6 ± 275.5, estimated blood loss 924.2 ± 729.5, 49% posterior approach, 18% anterior approach, 33% combined. 18% of patients experienced a total of 28 neurologic complications in the postoperative period (15 major). There were 7 radiculopathy, 6 motor deficits, 6 sensory deficits, 5 C5 motor deficits, 2 central neurodeficits, and 2 spinal cord deficits. 11.2% of patients experienced neurologic complications before 30 days (7 major) and 15% before 90 days (12 major). 12% of neurocomplication patients went on to have revision surgery within 6 months and 18% within 2 years. Neurologic complication patients had worse mJOA IHS scores at 1Y but no significant differences between NDI and EQ5D (0.003 vs. 0.873, 0.458). When assessing individual complications, central neurologic deficits and spinal cord deficit patients had the worst outcomes at 1Y (2.6 and 1.8 times worse NDI scores, P = 0.04, no improvement in EQ5D, 8% decrease in EQ5D). Patients with sensory deficits had the best NDI and EQ5D outcomes at 1Y (31% decrease in NDI, 8% increase in EQ5D). In a subanalysis, neurologic patients trended toward worse NDI and mJOA IHS outcomes (P = 0.263, 0.163).Conclusions18% of patients undergoing CD surgery experienced a neurologic complication, with 15% within 3 months. Patients who experienced any neurologic complication had worse mJOA recovery kinetics by 1 year and trended toward worse recovery at 2 years. Of the neurologic complications, central neurologic deficits and spinal cord deficits were the most detrimental

Evolution of Adult Cervical Deformity Surgery Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes Based on a Multicenter Prospective Study: Are Behaviors and Outcomes Changing with Experience?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: Assess changes in outcomes and surgical approaches for adult cervical deformity (ACD) surgery over time. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: As the population ages and prevalence of cervical deformity increases, corrective surgery has been increasingly seen as a viable treatment. Dramatic surgical advancements and expansion of knowledge on this procedure have transpired over years, but the impact on cervical deformity surgery is unknown. METHODS: ACD patients (≥18 yrs) with complete baseline and up to two-year HRQL and radiographic data were included. Descriptive analysis included demographics, radiographic, and surgical details. Patients were grouped into Early(2013-2014) and Late(2015-2017) by DOS. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were used to assess differences in surgical, radiographic, and clinical outcomes over time. RESULTS: 119 cervical deformity patients met inclusion criteria. Early group consisted of 72 patients, and Late group consisted of 47. Late group had a higher CCI (1.3 vs. 0.72), more cerebrovascular disease (6% vs. 0%, both P CONCLUSION: Despite a population with greater co-morbidity and associated risk, outcomes remained consistent between early and later time-periods, indicating general improvements in care. The later cohort demonstrated fewer three-column osteotomies, less suboptimal realignments and concomitant reductions in adverse events and neurologic complications. This may suggest greater facility with less invasive techniques

Highest Achievable Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Cervical Deformity Corrective Surgery by Frailty.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is influential in determining operative outcomes, including complications, in patients with cervical deformity (CD). OBJECTIVE: To assess whether frailty status limits the highest achievable outcomes of patients with CD. METHODS: Adult patients with CD with 2-year (2Y) data included. Frailty stratification: not frail (NF)0.4. Analysis of covariance established estimated marginal means based on age, invasiveness, and baseline deformity, for improvement, deterioration, or maintenance in Neck Disability Index (NDI), Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA), and Numerical Rating Scale Neck Pain. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-six patients with CD included 29 NF, 83 F, and 14 SF. The NF group had the highest rates of deterioration and lowest rates of improvement in cervical Sagittal Vertical Axis and horizontal gaze modifiers. Two-year improvements in NDI by frailty: NF: -11.2, F: -16.9, and SF: -14.6 ( P = .524). The top quartile of NF patients also had the lowest 1-year (1Y) NDI (7.0) compared with F (11.0) and SF (40.5). Between 1Y and 2Y, 7.9% of patients deteriorated in NDI, 71.1% maintained, and 21.1% improved. Between 1Y and 2Y, SF had the highest rate of improvement (42%), while NF had the highest rate of deterioration (18.5%). CONCLUSION: Although frail patients improved more often by 1Y, SF patients achieve most of their clinical improvement between 1 and 2Y. Frailty is associated with factors such as osteoporosis, poor alignment, neurological status, sarcopenia, and other medical comorbidities. Similarly, clinical outcomes can be affected by many factors (fusion status, number of pain generators within treated levels, integrity of soft tissues and bone, and deformity correction). Although accounting for such factors will ultimately determine whether frailty alone is an independent risk factor, these preliminary findings may suggest that frailty status affects the clinical outcomes and improvement after CD surgery