4.

Postoperative complications were seen in 20% of surgically treated patients with complex spine deformities at a Scoliosis Research Society SRS Global Outreach Program site. Three-column osteotomies were identified as an independent risk factor of both postoperative complications and neurological deficits. The significant observed correlation of 3-column osteotomies and postoperative neurological deficits should serve as a guide for surgeons in the preoperative planning and management of severe spinal deformities, especially in locations with limited resources. Patients undergoing correction of large curves may also have a higher complication rate.

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Study Design. Retrospective review of prospective cohort. Objective. We sought to examine the role of halo gravity traction (HGT) in reducing preoperative surgical risk. Summary of Background Data. The impact of HGT on procedure choice, preoperative risk factors, and surgical complications has not been previously described. Methods. Patients treated with HGT before primary surgery were included. The FOCOS Score (FS) was used to quantify operative risk. FS was calculated using patient-factors (ASIA, body mass index, etiology), procedure-factors (PcF; osteotomy planned, number of levels fused, etc.), and curve magnitude (CM). Scores ranged from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating increased risk. FS was calculated before and after HGT to see how changes in FS affected complication rates. Results. A total of 96 patients were included. Halo-related complications occurred in 34% of patients but revision was required in only 8.3%. Average FS improved by 18 points after HGT. CM, PcF, and patient-factors all improved (P < 0.05). The greatest changes were in CM and PcF. The planned rate of three-column osteotomies dropped from 91% to 38% after HGT. FS (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.68, P = 0.023) and change in FS (AUC: 0.781, P < 0.001) was successfully able to predict the rate of surgical complications. A preoperative FS of 74 was identified as a cut-off for a higher rate of surgical complications (sensitivity 58.8%, specificity 74.7%). Patients with a reduction in FS <  = 10pts were five times more likely to have a complication (relative risk 5.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.9–14.6, P < 0.001). A multivariate regression showed that change in FS was an independent predictor of complication rates (P < 0.05). Conclusion. FS can successfully predict surgical risk in pediatric patients with complex spinal deformity. Preoperative HGT can reduce FS and surgical risk by improving CM, lowering three-column osteotomies use, and improving body mass index. A reduction in FS after HGT predicts a lower rate of surgical complications. Level of Evidence: 3

Study Design. Retrospective Review of Prospective cohort. Objective. To describe the feasibility of preoperative halo gravity traction (HGT) with subsequent growing rod/guided growth (GR/GG) placement in early onset spinal deformity (EOSD). Summary of Background Data. In children with severe EOSD, primary implantation of GR/GG constructs is not always possible. We describe a staged protocol with preoperative HGT followed by GR/GG implantation. Methods. EOSD patients treated with HGT prior to GR/GG implantation were included. HGT used traction up to 50% body weight for 4 to 29 weeks. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed before and after HGT. Coronal Cobb (CC) and Sagittal Cobb (SC) angles were measured on the Pre-HGT, Post-HGT and 6 week postop x-rays. Results. Thirty patients were included. Average age at GR/GG implantation was 9 years. Most cases (n = 24, 80%) were idiopathic. Most pts had kyphoscoliosis (n = 16, 53.3%). Pre-HGT CC averaged 112 ± 22° and SC averaged 106 ± 26°. CC and SC improved 29% after HGT. There was a significant improvement in body mass index following HGT. CC improved further to 70 ± 14° (36% vs. pre-HGT) and SC to 63 ± 21° (41%) with GR/GG placement. HGT-related complications occurred in nine patients (30%); eight pin site infections, one cranial abscess. Most HGT complications were managed with local pin care and oral antibiotics. Halo revision was required in two pts (6.7%). There was no change in PFTs with HGT (P > 0.05). Averagely, 14 levels were spanned during GR/GG implantation; two patients required vertebral column resection. Surgical complications occurred in nine (30%) patients. At average 16 month follow-up, seven patients (23.3%) required reoperation. Conclusion. Preoperative HGT can make severe EOSD curves amenable to GR/GG implantation. HGT results in ∼30% correction with improvement to ∼35–40% following GR/GG. HGT has a 30% complication rate but most are pin-site infections managed with pin-site care and oral antibiotics; 6.7% of patients require revision. Level of Evidence: 4