Treatment of kyphotic deformities in adults: our experience.

Abstract

Many degenerative phenomena frequently result into kyphotic lumbar and thoracic deformities or cause their progression combined with deformities on the frontal plane of the spine. In these patients, the progression of the sagittal imbalance may lead to a series of disabling functional and painful consequences. The analysis of the spinopelvic parameters biases the choice of the correction surgical strategy aimed at restoring a good tri-dimensional and sagittal balance of the spine. Sample included 62 patients treated in our Operation Unit that were enrolled for evaluation; they were affected with prevailing sagittal deformities. Clinical results were evaluated through the administration of SF-36, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris (RM), and visual analogical scale (VAS). In our experience, patients with sagittal imbalance and short fusion areas show a higher risk of correction loss; the arthrodesis area must include the thoracolumbar junction, and it is often necessary to include the whole thoracic spine in the arthrodesis area. This is to avoid any loss of correction, implants mobilization, and proximal hyperkyphosis.