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Marfan syndrome(MFS) is an autosomal dominant systemic connective tissue disease. The incidence rate of MFS is about 2-3 per 10 000. Main cause of MFS is FBN1 gene mutation. About 2/3 of MFS patients have spinal deformities, showing symptoms of scoliosis, thoracic lordosis and lumbar kyphosis, severe spondylolisthesis, dural dilatation and pedicle dystrophy. MFS scoliosis develops with age and may continue even after bone maturation. Conservative treatments such as brace are usually ineffective. Surgical treatment of main curve > 40°-45 °is recommended, but due to the special anatomical structure of MFS patients, such surgical complications as dural leakage, failure of internal fixation and revision surgery are not uncommon.

The imbalance of the lateral shoulder is reflected by the clavicle angle (CA) in radiology. It remains unclear how to achieve postoperative lateral shoulder balance (LSB) after spinal deformity correction surgery. A retrospective analysis was conducted on AIS patients who underwent surgery by the same spine surgeon at our hospital from 2016 to 2020. A total of 110 patients with spinal deformity were included in the study to verify the correlation between the T1–T5 tilt angle and CA before and after surgery, as well as the relation-ship between the change in T1–T5 tilt angle before and after surgery and the change in CA before and after surgery. By comparing the correlation coefficients, it was found that there may not be a direct relationship between the pre- and postoperative tilt angles of T1–5 and CA, but their changes were closely related to the changes in CA. The change in T1 tilt angle after orthopaedic surgery was significantly correlated with the change in CA, with a correlation coefficient of 0.976, indicating a close relationship between T1 and the clavicle. As the vertebrae moved down, the correlation gradually decreased. In summary, this study suggests that there is a close relationship between T1–T5 and the clavicle and that the change in T1 tilt angle after spinal scoliosis correction surgery is significantly correlated with CA, which decreases as the vertebra moves down.

Objectives Sitting is a common weight‐bearing posture, like standing, but there still lacks enough understanding of sagittal alignment in sitting position for patients after lumbar fusion. This study aimed to investigate the accommodation of fixed spine from standing to sitting position and its influence on unfused segments. Methods Sixty‐two patients after lumbar fusion (test group) and 40 healthy volunteers (control group) were recruited in this research. All subjects underwent lateral radiographs of entire spine in the standing and sitting positions. The spinopelvic parameters including sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 pelvic angle (TPA), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), and pelvic tilt (PT) were measured. The changes in parameters of patients between two positions were compared with control group, and patients were divided in different groups based on fusion level and their parameters were compared. Results When changing from standing to sitting positions, a forward‐moving SVA and TPA were observed in both patients and control groups, accompanied by the decrease in LL, TK and increase in PT, but the changes of patients were smaller in TPA, LL, and TK (6.5° ± 7.2° vs 9.7° ± 6.0°, 7.7° ± 8.3° vs 13.6° ± 8.5°, 2.2° ± 6.5° vs 5.4° ± 5.1°, respectively, p

Objective Cervicothoracic scoliosis will cause severe deformities in the early stage, and its structure is complex and the surgical methods are varied. The purpose of this research is to explore the indication and analyze the corrective effect of the two different posterior approach surgical strategies, including correction with fusion and hemivertebra osteotomy, for congenital cervicothoracic scoliosis deformities in children and adolescents. Methods This was a retrospective study of 21 patients with cervicothoracic scoliosis who received surgical treatment from January 2010 to June 2020, including nine cases of posterior hemivertebra osteotomy and fusion surgery and 12 cases of posterior correction and fusion alone. The Cobb angle, T1 tilt angle, clavicular angle, neck tilt angle, radiographic shoulder height, sagittal vertical axis, coronal balance distance, and local kyphosis angle were measured preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow‐up. Posterior approach hemivertebra resection or correction with fusion surgery was adopted based on the different individual characteristics of deformity such as main curve Cobb angle, growth potential, and flexibility. Patients were divided into two groups (osteotomy group and nonosteotomy group) according to whether a hemivertebra osteotomy was performed, and the corrective results in the two groups were compared. Paired‐sample t tests or independent‐sample t tests were used. Results The median follow‐up after surgery of the 21 patients was 36 months (range, 18–72 months). The Cobb angle was corrected from 45.81° ± 14.23° preoperatively to 10.48° ± 5.56° postoperatively (correction rate, 77.78% ± 8.93%). The T1 tilt angle decreased from 15.26° ± 7.08° preoperatively to 3.33° ± 2.14° postoperatively (correction rate,73.42% ± 21.86%). The radiographic shoulder height was corrected from 1.13 ± 0.74 cm preoperatively to 0.52 ± 0.42 cm postoperatively (correction rate, 39.51% ± 35.65%). The clavicular angle improved from 2.52° ± 1.55° preoperatively to 1.16° ± 0.96° postoperatively (correction rate, 47.18% ± 35.84%). No significant differences were found at the last follow‐up (p > 0.05). The Cobb angle of the main curve, T1 tilt angle, clavicular angle, cervical tilt angle, and shoulder height difference were similar in the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions Posterior approach hemivertebra resection or correction with fusion surgery can be used in the treatment of congenital cervicothoracic scoliosis with satisfactory results, and the surgeon can make an individualized surgical plan according to individual characteristics of deformity.

Lateral shoulder imbalance (LSI) is reflected radiologically by the clavicle angle (CA). How to achieve postoperative lateral shoulder balance (LSB) after scoliosis correction surgery remains unclear. In the current study, by using the preoperative upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) tilt, the CA, the flexibility between T1 and the UIV, and the ideal postoperative UIV tilt was predicted based on the following formula: ideal postoperative UIV tilt = preoperative UIV tilt—the flexibility between T1 and UIV—preoperative CA. The reliability of the formula was verified through a retrospective analysis, and 76 scoliosis patients were enrolled. The feasibility of this method was verified through a prospective analysis, and 13 scoliosis patients were enrolled. In the retrospective study, there was a significant correlation between the difference in the actual and ideal postoperative UIV tilt values and the postoperative CA, with correlation coefficients in the whole, LSI, and LSB groups of 0.981, 0.982, and 0.953, respectively (p < 0.001). In the prospective study, all patients achieved satisfactory LSB. Using the formula preoperatively to predict an ideal postoperative UIV tilt and controlling the intraoperative UIV tilt with the improved crossbar technique may be an effective digital method for achieving postoperative LSB and has important clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports are relevant to younger populations in society. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients who undergo surgical correction of the spine are often intensively involved in sports. For that, returning to the sport is often an important concern for the patients and their families. To the best of our knowledge, there is still a lack of scientific data indicating established recommendations about the time of returning to sport activities after surgical spinal correction. The aim of this study was to investigate (1) when AIS patients return to athletic activities after a posterior fusion, and (2) if they change their activities postoperatively. Furthermore, another question was (3) if the length of the performed posterior fusion or (4) fusion to the lower lumbar spine could have an influence on the rates or time of returning to sport activities postoperatively. Data collection was performed using questionnaires assessing patients' contentment and athletic activity. Athletic activities were categorized into three categories: (1) contact, (2) contact/non-contact and (3) non-contact sports. The intensity of exercised sports, the time of returning to the sport and changes in sport habits were documented. Radiographs were evaluated pre- and postoperatively to determine the Cobb angle and the length of the posterior fusion via the identification of the upper (UIV) and lower instrumented vertebra (LIV). Stratification analysis due to the fusion length was performed to answer a hypothetical question. This retrospective survery of 113 AIS patients treated with a posterior fusion revealed that, on average, returning to sport activities required 8 months of postoperative rest. The preoperative to postoperative rate of patients participating in sport activities increased from 88 (78%) to 94 (89%). Furthermore, postoperatively, a relevant shift of exercised activities from contact to non-contact sports was noted. Further subanalysis revealed that only 33 subjects were able to return to exactly the same athletic activities as before surgery (10 months postoperatively). The assessment of radiographs revealed that in this study group, the length of the performed posterior fusion and fusions to the lower lumbar spine had no influence on the time of return to athletic activities. The results of this study might shed some light on postoperative recommendations for sport activities after AIS treatment with a posterior fusion and may be beneficial for surgeons treating patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sitting is a common weight‐bearing posture, like standing, but there still lacks enough understanding of sagittal alignment in sitting position for patients after lumbar fusion. This study aimed to investigate the accommodation of fixed spine from standing to sitting position and its influence on unfused segments. Methods: Sixty‐two patients after lumbar fusion (test group) and 40 healthy volunteers (control group) were recruited in this research. All subjects underwent lateral radiographs of entire spine in the standing and sitting positions. The spinopelvic parameters including sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 pelvic angle (TPA), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), and pelvic tilt (PT) were measured. The changes in parameters of patients between two positions were compared with control group, and patients were divided in different groups based on fusion level and their parameters were compared. Results: When changing from standing to sitting positions, a forward‐moving SVA and TPA were observed in both patients and control groups, accompanied by the decrease in LL, TK and increase in PT, but the changes of patients were smaller in TPA, LL, and TK (6.5° ± 7.2° vs 9.7° ± 6.0°, 7.7° ± 8.3° vs 13.6° ± 8.5°, 2.2° ± 6.5° vs 5.4° ± 5.1°, respectively, p < 0.05). Increase of PT in the lumbosacral fixation group was lower than that in the control group (4.4° ± 9.1° vs 8.3° ± 7.1°, p < 0.05). Patients who had adjacent segments degeneration (ASD) showed more kyphosis in unfused lumbar segments than the other patients (16.4° ± 10.7° vs −1.0° ± 4.8°, p < 0.05) from standing to sitting. Conclusions: The spine straightens in lumbar and thoracic curve, combined with forward‐moving axis and pelvic retroversion when changing to the sitting position. However, these changes are relatively limited in patients after lumbar fusion, so the adjacent unfused lumbar segments compensate to stress during sitting and this may be related to ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cervicothoracic scoliosis will cause severe deformities in the early stage, and its structure is complex and the surgical methods are varied. The purpose of this research is to explore the indication and analyze the corrective effect of the two different posterior approach surgical strategies, including correction with fusion and hemivertebra osteotomy, for congenital cervicothoracic scoliosis deformities in children and adolescents. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 21 patients with cervicothoracic scoliosis who received surgical treatment from January 2010 to June 2020, including nine cases of posterior hemivertebra osteotomy and fusion surgery and 12 cases of posterior correction and fusion alone. The Cobb angle, T1 tilt angle, clavicular angle, neck tilt angle, radiographic shoulder height, sagittal vertical axis, coronal balance distance, and local kyphosis angle were measured preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow‐up. Posterior approach hemivertebra resection or correction with fusion surgery was adopted based on the different individual characteristics of deformity such as main curve Cobb angle, growth potential, and flexibility. Patients were divided into two groups (osteotomy group and nonosteotomy group) according to whether a hemivertebra osteotomy was performed, and the corrective results in the two groups were compared. Paired‐sample t tests or independent‐sample t tests were used. Results: The median follow‐up after surgery of the 21 patients was 36 months (range, 18–72 months). The Cobb angle was corrected from 45.81° ± 14.23° preoperatively to 10.48° ± 5.56° postoperatively (correction rate, 77.78% ± 8.93%). The T1 tilt angle decreased from 15.26° ± 7.08° preoperatively to 3.33° ± 2.14° postoperatively (correction rate,73.42% ± 21.86%). The radiographic shoulder height was corrected from 1.13 ± 0.74 cm preoperatively to 0.52 ± 0.42 cm postoperatively (correction rate, 39.51% ± 35.65%). The clavicular angle improved from 2.52° ± 1.55° preoperatively to 1.16° ± 0.96° postoperatively (correction rate, 47.18% ± 35.84%). No significant differences were found at the last follow‐up (p > 0.05). The Cobb angle of the main curve, T1 tilt angle, clavicular angle, cervical tilt angle, and shoulder height difference were similar in the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Posterior approach hemivertebra resection or correction with fusion surgery can be used in the treatment of congenital cervicothoracic scoliosis with satisfactory results, and the surgeon can make an individualized surgical plan according to individual characteristics of deformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the radiographic risk factors of postoperative shoulder imbalance (PSI) after adult scoliosis (AS) correction surgery.MethodsSeventy-nine patients with AS undergoing correction surgery at a single institution were reviewed. The mean follow-up was 28 months. Patients were divided into two groups based on their radiographic shoulder height (RSH): (1) the balanced group (RSH

Chin on chest deformity caused by upper cervical kyphosis associated with ankylosing spondylitis is rare. A 66-year-old woman presented at our institute with chief complaints of difficulty in horizontal gaze and opening her mouth. Cervical radiographs showed a C0–2 angle of 1° on flexion and 7° on extension, and her chin-brow vertical angle was 49°. We planned fixation surgery at C0–5 posteriorly to prevent the progression of kyphosis, with slight correction of the kyphosis at C0–2. The correction was performed by pushing down the over lordotically contoured titanium rods connected to an occipital plate onto the C3–5 lateral mass screws, just like cantilever technique. No palpable cracking or loss of resistance was noticed during the correction. However, intraoperative radiographs revealed apparent anterior separation of the vertebral bodies between C3 and C4. Postoperative computed tomography images at the C3/4 level suggested hemorrhage from the fracture site. Tracheostomy was performed because of massive edema around the pharynx. To secure solid bone fusion, staged surgery to extend the fusion to T3 and to graft an additional iliac bone was performed. Fortunately, the C2–7 angle was corrected to 40°, and her chin-brow vertical angle was restored to 17° without any catastrophic complications. Although the patient finally obtained an ideal sagittal alignment, the surgeon should be aware that the technique had a higher perioperative risk for iatrogenic fracture, resulting in neurological and vascular injuries.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.Objective: To investigate the association between Hounsfield units (HU) measured at the planned upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and UIV+1 and proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD).Summary Of Background Data: PJK is a common complication following surgery for ASD and poor bone quality is noted to be one of the risk factors. HUs from standard computed tomography (CT) scans can be used for evaluating regional bone quality.Methods: Sixty-three patients were included from a single institution. The demographic characteristics and radiographic parameters were recorded. Local vertebral HUs at the planned UIV and UIV+ 1 were measured using preoperative CT scans. The patients were divided into three groups: no PJK, non-bony PJK, and bony PJK. The risk factors between the three groups and the correlation between the mean HU and increase in the PJK angle were analyzed.Results: The incidence of PJK was 36.5%. The mean HU was significantly lower in the bony PJK group (HU: 109.0) than in the no PJK group (HU: 168.7, P = 0.038), and the mean HU in the non-bony PJK group (HU: 141.7) was not different compared to the other two groups. There was a significant negative correlation between the mean HU values and the increase in the PJK angles (r = -0.475, P < 0.01). The cutoff value for the mean HU used to predict bony PJK was 120 and a HU value less than 120 was a significant risk factor for bony PJK (OR: 5.74, 95% CI [1.01-32.54], P = 0.04).Conclusions: We noted a significant inverse relationship between the mean HUs at the UIV and UIV+ 1 and increase in the PJK angles postoperatively. In ASD patients, the HUs may be used preoperatively to identify patients with a higher risk of bony PJK.Level of Evidence: 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background SERI (Simple, Effective, Rapid, and Inexpensive) osteotomy is an accepted minimally invasive distal first metatarsal osteotomy performed to correct hallux valgus (HV). In the absence of reports of efficacy of the SERI technique in the Middle East, we studied 1-year outcomes of SERI osteotomy performed at our hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods We reviewed the medical charts of patients aged 20 to 60 years who underwent SERI osteotomy for HV between August 2013 and September 2016 and identified 29 patients, 2 (6.9%) men and 27 (93.1%) women, who met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Patients’ clinical and operative characteristics were examined, their pre- and postoperative (1-year) radiographic measurements were compared, and the occurrence of any postoperative complication/event was noted. Result Patients’ mean age was 34.9 ± 13.6 years. Six patients (20.7%) were treated for severe HV. Mean operation time was 11.1 ± 2.3 min. Four patients (13.8%) reported postoperative pain. No revision surgery was done. Congruency of the hallux metatarsophalangeal joint increased significantly, documented in only 4 patients (13.8%) preoperatively but in 17 (58.6%) at 1 year. The mean hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA) were significantly decreased at 1 year. The HVA normalized in 20 patients (69.0%), the IMA normalized in 25 patients (86.2%), but the DMAA normalized in only 4 patients (13.8%). The number of patients with sesamoid subluxation decreased from 29 (100%) to 13 (44.8%). Conclusion Our study data indicate that SERI osteotomy reliably reduces a wide spectrum of HV deformities and it is a safe procedure with very minimal complications. Trial registration This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under the following reference number: NCT03669900.

Purpose: L5 pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) is a demanding technique; thus, PSOs are usually performed at the L3/L4 level to correct the lack of lumbar lordosis. Mid- to long-term improvements in clinical outcomes after L5 PSO are unknown. We aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of L5 PSO for rigid kyphosis deformities. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 57 patients with a rigid kyphosis deformity (mean age: 68 years) who underwent extensive corrective surgery incorporating PSO with a > 2-year follow-up. Radiographic parameters, postoperative complication rates, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were compared in the L5, L4, and L1-3 PSO groups preoperatively and at 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively. Results: There were 12, 25, and 20 patients in the L5, L4, and L1-3 PSO groups, respectively. Significant between-group differences were found in preoperative L4–S1 lordosis (L5:L4:L1-3 PSO groups = − 8.9°:8.9°:16.2°, P < 0.001). The surgeries improved the postoperative spinopelvic alignment (similar in all groups). There was no significant between-group difference in the postoperative complication rate; no irreversible complications occurred. In the L5 PSO group, there was one case of a common iliac vein injury. The ODI scores improved postoperatively in all groups; this was maintained for 5 years postoperatively. Conclusion: L5 PSO for L4-5/L5 kyphosis deformities resulted in adequate correction and ODI improvement, which were maintained up to 5 years postoperatively. The surgical invasiveness, complication rates, and long-term prognosis associated with L5 PSO were similar to those of PSOs performed at other levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Several studies have explored cervical kyphosis (CK) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. However, few studies have evaluated the cervical alignment in these patients according to their coronal curve type. The aim of this study was to analyze the radiological features of cervical sagittal alignment in Lenke 1 AIS patients before and after surgery. Methods This is a retrospective study enrolled 50 patients. Preoperative and postoperative standing full-length radiographs (at last follow-up after operation) were used to measure the coronal and sagittal parameters. Main sagittal parameters included C2–C7 angle, thoracic inlet angle (TIA), T1 slope, proximal thoracic kyphosis (PTK, T1-5 kyphosis) and thoracic kyphosis (TK, T5-12 kyphosis). Results The TIA of patients with CK was significantly smaller than that of patients with CL (63.0° vs. 76.3°, p

The imbalance of the lateral shoulder is reflected by the clavicle angle (CA) in radiology. It remains unclear how to achieve postoperative lateral shoulder balance (LSB) after spinal deformity correction surgery. A retrospective analysis was conducted on AIS patients who underwent surgery by the same spine surgeon at our hospital from 2016 to 2020. A total of 110 patients with spinal deformity were included in the study to verify the correlation between the T1-T5 tilt angle and CA before and after surgery, as well as the relation-ship between the change in T1-T5 tilt angle before and after surgery and the change in CA before and after surgery. By comparing the correlation coefficients, it was found that there may not be a direct relationship between the pre- and postoperative tilt angles of T1-5 and CA, but their changes were closely related to the changes in CA. The change in T1 tilt angle after orthopaedic surgery was significantly correlated with the change in CA, with a correlation coefficient of 0.976, indicating a close relationship between T1 and the clavicle. As the vertebrae moved down, the correlation gradually decreased. In summary, this study suggests that there is a close relationship between T1-T5 and the clavicle and that the change in T1 tilt angle after spinal scoliosis correction surgery is significantly correlated with CA, which decreases as the vertebra moves down., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Jiang, Wang, Cui, Wang, Wang, Sun, Peng, Li, Zhang and Zhang.)

To identify clinical and radiographic features of subtypes of acute proximal junctional failures (PJFs) following correction surgery for degenerative sagittal imbalance. The study included 157 patients with mean age 68.0 ± 6.3 years who underwent correction surgery for degenerative sagittal imbalance. Acute PJFs were categorized into 4 subtypes: fracture at uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV), fracture at vertebra just proximal to UIV (UIV+1), fixation failure at UIV, and junctional subluxation. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic data were analyzed retrospectively. There were 18 patients with acute PJFs. PJF group had significantly lower T-score (−3.3 ± 1.1 vs. −1.9 ± 1.5) on bone densitometry and lower body mass index (BMI) (23.0 ± 3.9 kg/m2 vs. 25.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2) than non-PJF group. Radiographic parameters exhibited no significant differences. UIV fracture, UIV+1 fracture, UIV fixation failure, and junctional subluxation were observed in 5, 6, 4, and 3 patients. Fixation failure developed the earliest (median 1.3 months), followed by UIV fracture (1.5 months). UIV fracture occurred earlier than UIV+1 fracture (36 months). Patients with UIV or UIV+1 fracture had significantly lower T-scores than others. Although BMI and T-score were significant risk factors for all PJFs (P = 0.043 and P = 0.021, respectively), different risk factors for each subtype of PJFs were identified on separate risk factor analysis. Patients with acute PJFs had lower T-score and BMI. Each subtype of PJFs had different clinical and radiographic features. Although BMI and T-score were associated with all PJFs, each subtype may have different risk factors. Identifying risk factors for each subtype of acute PJFs may help avoid it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to elucidate surgical risk factors in neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) with respect to wound site infection after spinal fusion. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients treated surgically for NMS between January 2008 and December 2016 (minimum 6 months' follow-up). A sub-cohort of 60 patients with minimum 2 years of follow-up data was also analyzed. Results: In 102 patients (53 boys and 49 girls), the mean age at surgery was 14.0 years (SD ±2.7). Mean follow-up was 2.53 years (±1.66), and mean time to presentation of infection was 2.14 months (±4.95). The overall perioperative complication rate was 26.5%, with 14.7% of patients developing deep wound infection. Gram-negative bacteria were responsible for 60% of infections; 20% were Gram positive, and 20% involved both types. Pulmonary comorbidities (p = 0.007), pre- to postoperative increase in weight (p = 0.010), exaggerated lumbar lordosis at follow-up (p = 0.008), history of seizures (p = 0.046), previous myelomeningocele repair (p = 0.046), and previous operations (p = 0.013) were significant risk factors for infection. Conclusion: Our data suggest that in the pediatric population treated surgically for NMS, wound infection is strongly associated with postoperative increase in body weight, residual lumbar lordosis, pulmonary comorbidity, history of myelomeningocele repair, seizures, and previous operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SERI (Simple, Effective, Rapid, and Inexpensive) osteotomy is an accepted minimally invasive distal first metatarsal osteotomy performed to correct hallux valgus (HV). In the absence of reports of efficacy of the SERI technique in the Middle East, we studied 1-year outcomes of SERI osteotomy performed at our hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of patients aged 20 to 60 years who underwent SERI osteotomy for HV between August 2013 and September 2016 and identified 29 patients, 2 (6.9%) men and 27 (93.1%) women, who met the criteria for inclusion in the study. Patients' clinical and operative characteristics were examined, their pre- and postoperative (1-year) radiographic measurements were compared, and the occurrence of any postoperative complication/event was noted. Result: Patients' mean age was 34.9 ± 13.6 years. Six patients (20.7%) were treated for severe HV. Mean operation time was 11.1 ± 2.3 min. Four patients (13.8%) reported postoperative pain. No revision surgery was done. Congruency of the hallux metatarsophalangeal joint increased significantly, documented in only 4 patients (13.8%) preoperatively but in 17 (58.6%) at 1 year. The mean hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA) were significantly decreased at 1 year. The HVA normalized in 20 patients (69.0%), the IMA normalized in 25 patients (86.2%), but the DMAA normalized in only 4 patients (13.8%). The number of patients with sesamoid subluxation decreased from 29 (100%) to 13 (44.8%). Conclusion: Our study data indicate that SERI osteotomy reliably reduces a wide spectrum of HV deformities and it is a safe procedure with very minimal complications. Trial registration: This study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under the following reference number: NCT03669900. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of bilateral lung transplantation combined with Nuss operation on the treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) complicated with pectus excavatum after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Methods On March 24, 2015, one patient presenting with BOS complicated with pectus excavatum after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-assisted bilateral lung transplantation in the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation Center of Wuxi People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University. Simutaneously, Nuss operation was successfully performed to treat pectus excavatum. After anti-inflammation and anti-fungal treatment, a triple immunosuppressive regimen consisting of tacrolimus + mycophenolate mofetil + adrenocortical hormone was implemented. Results The patient was properly recovered and discharged on 25 d after operation. The Nuss steel plate was removed from the chest at postoperative 2 years. The thoracic deformity was corrected. The patient received long-term postoperative follow-up. Until submission date, the patient survived for more than 3 years. The lung function was well restored and the quality of life was satisfactory. Conclusions Bilateral lung transplantation combined with Nuss operation is an effective approach in the treatment of end-stage BOS complicated thoracic deformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the aorta movement following correction surgery for patients with thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis and to determine the subsequent risk of the aorta impingement for pedicle screw (PS) misplacement. Methods: Thirty-six AIS patients with a main thoracolumbar or lumbar curve were included in this study. According to the direction of the main curve, the patients were divided into Group R and Group L, with Group R comprising 16 patients with a right-sided curve and Group L comprising 20 patients with a left-sided curve. All patients underwent CT scans of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine before and after surgery. To identify the relative positions of the aorta to vertebral body, several parameters were measured from the CT images of the middle transverse planes of vertebrae from T11 to L4, including aorta-vertebra angle ( α), vertebral rotation angle ( β), left safety distance (LSD) and right safety distance (RSD). The risk of the aorta impingement from T11 to L4 was calculated. An intragroup comparison regarding the position of the aorta relative to the vertebral body before and after correction surgery was performed accordingly. Results: After surgery, the aorta moved toward the vertebral body among all levels in both groups. Compared with that in Group L, the aorta in Group R was significantly closer to the entry point at all levels, especially at T11. Before surgery, the aorta in Group R was at a high risk of impingement from left PS placement regardless of the diameters of the simulated screws. While in Group L, the risk of aorta impingement was mainly caused by the right placement of 45 mm PS. After surgery, both groups had an increased risk of aorta impingement from PS insertion, especially at T11. The risk of aorta impingement from PS placement was significantly higher in Group R than in Group L. Conclusion: The risk of aorta impingement increased as the aorta shifted leftward after correction surgery, especially in right-sided Lenke 5C curve. Thus, preoperative risk evaluation could be insufficient for clinical practice due to aorta movement following correction surgery. Surgeons should be aware of the potential risk of aorta impingement, especially when placing PS in patients with right-sided curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify factors that can affect postoperative shoulder balance in AIS. Method: 89 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with six types of curvatures who underwent surgery were included in this study. Whole spine antero-posterior and lateral radiographs were obtained pre- and postoperatively. In radiograms, shape and changes in curvatures were analyzed. In addition, four shoulder parameters and coronal balance were analyzed in an effort to identify factors significantly related to postoperative shoulder balance. Result: In general, all the four shoulder parameters (CHD, CA, CRID, RSH) were slightly increased at final follow up ( t test, P < 0.05), although there was a decrease in Lenke type II and IV curvatures. However, pre- and postoperative shoulder parameters were not significantly different between each curvature types (ANOVA, P > 0.05). Moreover, no significant differences of pre- and postoperative shoulder level between different level of proximal fusion groups (ANOVA, P > 0.05) existed. In the analysis of coronal curvature changes, no difference was observed in every individual coronal curvatures between improved shoulder balance and aggravated groups ( P > 0.05). However, the middle to distal curve change ratio was significantly lower in patients with aggravated shoulder balance ( P < 0.05). In addition, patients with smaller preoperative shoulder imbalance showed the higher chance of aggravation after surgery with similar postoperative changes ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Significant relations were found between correction rate of middle, and distal curvature, and postoperative shoulder balance. In addition, preoperative shoulder level difference can be a determinant of postoperative shoulder balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the radiographic risk factors of postoperative shoulder imbalance (PSI) after adult scoliosis (AS) correction surgery., Methods: Seventy-nine patients with AS undergoing correction surgery at a single institution were reviewed. The mean follow-up was 28 months. Patients were divided into two groups based on their radiographic shoulder height (RSH): (1) the balanced group (RSH <10 mm) and (2) the unbalanced group (RSH ≥10 mm). The preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles of the proximal thoracic (PT), main thoracic (MT), thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) and upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) were measured., Results: No significant difference was found between the balanced and unbalanced groups when the UIV was T1-2, T3-4, or below T4. Univariate analysis indicated that the unbalanced group had significantly higher postoperative RSH, lower percentage PT correction, and greater percentage MT correction. The classification and regression tree analysis revealed that when the correction percentage of PT curve was more than 55.3%, 84.4% of patients acquired shoulder balance. However, when the correction percentage of PT curve was less than 55.3%, and the correction percentage of MT curve was more than 56%, 65.7% of the patients developed PSI., Conclusions: In AS correction surgery, a lower percentage correction of the PT curve and greater percentage correction of the MT curve were independent radiographic risk factors of PSI, regardless of the UIV level. Sufficient PT correction is required to achieve postoperative shoulder balance in AS correction surgery when the MT curve is overcorrected., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ke, Wang, Hua, Wang, Li and Yang.)

Two cases of anterior spinal artery ischemia syndrome (ASAS) were reported after surgery for the correction of scoliosis in a series of 54 patients and 72 operations. The paraplegia of case 1 was caused by ligation of the segmental vessels. Case 2 developed delayed paraplcgia after correction of kyphoscoliosis including the region from T to T. There were definite clinical manifestations indicating the diagnosis of ASAS, Hyperbaric oxygen and vasodilation therapy was effective and the patients gained satisfactory recovery. The authors recommend a modified technique for the anterior route surgery of sparing the segmental vessels and a more conservative planning for the correction of kyphoscoliosis in the region from T to T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), which can worsen a patient's quality of life, is a common complication following the surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD). Although various radiographic parameters have been proposed to predict the occurrence of PJK, the optimal method has not been established. The present study aimed to investigate the usefulness of the T1-L1 pelvic angle in the standing position (standing TLPA) for predicting the occurrence of PJK., Methods: The authors retrospectively extracted data for patients with ASD who underwent minimum 5-level fusion to the pelvis with upper instrumented vertebra between T8 and L1. In the present study, PJK was defined as ≥ 10° progression of the proximal junctional angle or reoperation due to progressive kyphosis during 1 year of follow-up. The following parameters were analyzed on whole-spine standing radiographs: the T1-pelvic angle, conventional thoracic kyphosis (TK; T4-12), whole-thoracic TK (T1-12), and the standing TLPA (defined as the angle formed by lines extending from the center of T1 and L1 to the femoral head axis). A logistic regression analysis and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed., Results: A total of 50 patients with ASD were enrolled (84% female; mean age 74.4 years). PJK occurred in 19 (38%) patients. Preoperatively, the PJK group showed significantly greater T1-pelvic angle (49.2° vs 34.4°), conventional TK (26.6° vs 17.6°), and standing-TLPA (30.0° vs 14.9°) values in comparison to the non-PJK group. There was no significant difference in the whole-thoracic TK between the two groups. A multivariate analysis showed that the standing TLPA and whole-thoracic TK were independent predictors of PJK. The standing TLPA had better accuracy than whole-thoracic TK (AUC 0.86 vs 0.64, p = 0.03). The optimal cutoff value of the standing TLPA was 23.0° (sensitivity 0.79, specificity 0.74). Using this cutoff value, the standing TLPA was the best predictor of PJK (OR 8.4, 95% CI 1.8-39, p = 0.007)., Conclusions: The preoperative standing TLPA was more closely associated with the occurrence of PJK than other radiographic parameters. These results suggest that this easily measured parameter is useful for the prediction of PJK.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Objective: Analysis of postoperative sagittal alignment of the unfused spine is lacking in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph to predict the reciprocal change of the unfused spine after correction surgery. We hypothesized that the novel parameter (T1-UIV angle: angle between the upper vertebral endplate of the T1 and the upper vertebral endplate of the upper instrumented vertebra) of the preoperative whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph is similar to that of the postoperative lateral radiograph if the patient has the ideal sagittal alignment., Methods: Twenty-six ASD patients who underwent correction surgery with a minimum 2-year follow-up were enrolled and separated into the Ideal and Non-Ideal groups according to the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab classification of the final follow-up radiograph. Radiographic parameters, including T1-UIV of the preoperative whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph, were obtained., Results: Thirteen patients were included in the Ideal group and 13 were in Non-Ideal group. Preoperative T1-UIV of the whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph exhibited significant correlations with the T1-UIV angles of the postoperative and final follow-up radiographs ( r = 0.64, P < .01, y = 0.800 x + 8.012, and r = 0.69, P < .01, y = 0.857 x + 2.960, respectively). Interestingly, this correlation was stronger for the Ideal group ( r = 0.77, P < .01, y = 1.207 x - 1.517, and r = 0.89, P < .01, y = 0.986 x + 0.694, respectively)., Conclusion: A novel radiographic strategy (T1-UIV of preoperative the whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph) could estimate the postoperative alignment of the unfused spine correctly.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of short-term halo-pelvic traction (HPT) combined with surgery in the treatment of severe spinal deformities., Methods: In the study, 24 patients diagnosed as severe spinal deformity accepted the treatment of one-stage short-term HPT and two-stage surgery from January 2015 to May 2018 in our orthopedics department. 24 cases (9 males and 15 females) were retrospectively reviewed. The average age of the cohort was (28.8±10.0) years (12－48 years). The height, scoliosis angle, kyphosis angle, the height difference of shoulders, the height difference of crista iliaca, C7PL-CSVL and the perpendicular distance of S1 and the convex point of the patients were assessed at pre-traction, post-traction and post-surgery. The paired t test was used to analyze the difference among pre-traction, post-traction and post-surgery., Results: The average traction time of 24 cases was (2.5±1.1) weeks (1－5 weeks). The height of pre-traction and post-traction were (141.7±11.2) cm (116-167 cm) and (154.1±9.5) cm (136－176 cm) respectively, showing significant difference ( P < 0.05), and the increased height was (12.4±4.6) cm (4－20 cm). The average scoliosis angle before traction was 104.9°±35.0°(25°－158°), and it was significantly decreased in post-traction[64.8°±21.0°(19°－92°)] and post-surgery[39.3°±17.0° (10°-70°)] ( P < 0.05). The traction's coronal correction rate was 37.2%±10.9% (11.9%－51.2%) and the total coronal correction rate was 61.9%±12.6%(26.9%-79.0%). The average kyphosis angle before traction was 106.9°±29.2°(54°－163°), and it was significantly decreased in post-traction [63.1°±17.1°(32°－92°)] and post-surgery [39.0°±16.8°(10°－68°)]( P < 0.05). The traction's sagittal correction rate was 40.0%±10.7%(16.7%－55.5%) and the total sagittal correction rate was 64.3%±10.7%(49.0%－87.5%). The average C7PL-CSVL before traction was (3.2±2.8) cm, and it was significantly decreased in post-traction [(2.5±2.5) cm] ( P < 0.05). The perpendicular distance of S1 and the convex point before traction was (10.5±4.8) cm, and it was significantly decreased in post-traction[(8.4±3.5) cm] ( P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The one-stage short-term HPT combined with two-stage surgery is a safe and effective procedure for severe spinal deformities. The clinical efficacy is satisfactory and the complication is relatively less.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of concealed penis correction surgery based on the principle of midline symmetry., Methods: Between January 2016 and September 2018, 18 children with concealed penis were treated with correction surgery based on the principle of midline symmetry. All children were 3-12 years old, with an average age of 8.3 years. Physical examination showed that the penis was short; the penis body could not be exposed or be exposed too limited; the corpus cavernosum developed well. The pressure dressing was removed at 3 days after operation and the urethral tube was removed. The color of the glans, the swelling and congestion of penis and scrotum, and the blood supple of the prepuce flap were observed., Results: The operation time ranged from 47 to 54 minutes, with an average of 50 minutes. All children were followed up 3 months after operation. There was no hemorrhage and necrosis of the glans and no infection or ischemic necrosis of the flap. All patients had different degree of prepuce edema at 3 days after operation, 5 patients still had prepuce edema at 2 weeks, and the prepuce edema in all patients subsided at 3 months. All penises were exposed well after midline symmetric anastomosis with no bulky prepuce and scrotum., Conclusion: The correction surgery based on the principle of midline symmetry can be used to correct the appearance of the concealed penis effectively.

A meta do tratamento dos pacientes portadores de carcinoma avançado de esôfago é o alívio da disfagia. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar a experiência dos autores na utilização da derivação esofagogástrica através de um tubo gástrico isoperistáltico seguido de radioterapia, no tratamento de doentes portadores de carcinoma irressecável do esôfago. MÉTODO: No período de 1990 a 1999, 30 pacientes foram submetidos à cirurgia de derivação. Vinte e quatro doentes (80%) eram do sexo masculino e seis (20%) do feminino; a idade variou de 27 a 69 anos, média de 49,3 anos. Em todos os casos o diagnóstico foi confirmado por endoscopia digestiva alta e biópsia. Aqueles com tumores maiores que 6cm ao esofagograma ou com sinais de invasão da árvore respiratória à broncoscopia foram considerados irressecáveis. Após avaliação clínica e preparo pré-operatório foram submetidos à operação de derivação. O ato operatório foi realizado por duas equipes, uma na região cervical e outra na abdominal e a duração da intervenção variou entre três a quatro horas. Após a alta hospitalar os pacientes foram encaminhados para a radioterapia. RESULTADOS: Não houve óbito operatório. A mortalidade pós-operatória foi de 10%, um caso de tromboembolismo pulmonar e dois de broncopneumonia. Treze pacientes (43,3%) desenvolveram fístula cervical e em 11 ocorreu o fechamento espontâneo da fístula; um caso necessitou de reoperação e outro veio a falecer no 14º dia pós-operatório com a fístula aberta. Oito pacientes (26,6%) apresentaram estenose da anastomose esôfago-tubo; todos evoluíram bem com dilatação endoscópica. A deglutição foi restabelecida em todos os pacientes até o momento do óbito, excetuando aqueles que faleceram em virtude de complicações pós-operatórias (três casos). O tempo de internação variou de 12 a 45 dias e a sobrevida média foi de 7,9 meses. CONCLUSÕES: Os autores concluíram que nos pacientes portadores de carcinoma irressecável do esôfago, a derivação da obstrução através de um tubo gástrico isoperistáltico atinge seu objetivo primeiro que é aliviar a disfagia até o momento do óbito. A morbidade é alta, porém a maioria das complicações tem evolução benigna. A mortalidade é aceitável levando-se em conta a gravidade do carcinoma do esôfago.

Background: Several studies have explored cervical kyphosis (CK) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. However, few studies have evaluated the cervical alignment in these patients according to their coronal curve type. The aim of this study was to analyze the radiological features of cervical sagittal alignment in Lenke 1 AIS patients before and after surgery., Methods: This is a retrospective study enrolled 50 patients. Preoperative and postoperative standing full-length radiographs (at last follow-up after operation) were used to measure the coronal and sagittal parameters. Main sagittal parameters included C2-C7 angle, thoracic inlet angle (TIA), T1 slope, proximal thoracic kyphosis (PTK, T1-5 kyphosis) and thoracic kyphosis (TK, T5-12 kyphosis)., Results: The TIA of patients with CK was significantly smaller than that of patients with CL (63.0° vs. 76.3°, p < 0.05) and the cutoff value was 71°. The TIA of patients with CK after surgery was significantly smaller than that of patients with CL postoperatively (62.5° vs. 74.6°, p < 0.05) and the cutoff value was 62°. In patients with postoperative CL, there was a significant increase in their PTK and a reduction in their TK, regardless of preoperative CL or CK. In patients whose CL deteriorated to CK after surgery, both their PTK and TK significantly decreased after surgery., Conclusions: Patients with TIA less than 71° were more likely to have CK. And patients with TIA less than 62° would lead to the postoperative uncorrected or new onset of CK. The increased PTK after operation could have a beneficial effect on the improvement of CL.