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

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-13-2022

Publication Title

Spine Deform

Keywords

washington; swedish; swedish neurosci; Adult spinal deformity; HRQoL; Oswestry Disability Index; Proximal junctional kyphosis; SF-36; SRS-22

Abstract

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 > 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: > 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.

Clinical Institute

Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Clinical Institute

Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)

Department

Neurosciences

Department

Orthopedics

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