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. 2021 Oct;11(8):1266-1280.
doi: 10.1177/2192568220969153. Epub 2020 Dec 7.

The Current Status of Spinal Posttraumatic Deformity: A Systematic Review

Erin E A De Gendt  1 , Timon F G Vercoulen  1 , Andrei F Joaquim  2 , Wei Guo  3 , Emiliano N Vialle  4 , Gregory D Schroeder  5 , Klaus S Schnake  6 , Alexander R Vaccaro  5 , Lorin Michael Benneker  7 , Sander P J Muijs  1 , F Cumhur Oner  1
Affiliations

The Current Status of Spinal Posttraumatic Deformity: A Systematic Review

Erin E A De Gendt et al. Global Spine J. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Study design: Systematic Review.

Objective: To systematically analyze the definitions and descriptions in literature of "Spinal Posttraumatic Deformity" (SPTD) in order to support the development of a uniform and comprehensive definition of clinically relevant SPTD.

Methods: A literature search in 11 international databases was performed using "deformity" AND "posttraumatic" and its synonyms. When an original definition or a description of SPTD (Patient factors, Radiological outcomes, Patient Reported Outcome Measurements and Surgical indication) was present the article was included. The retrieved articles were assessed for methodological quality and the presented data was extracted.

Results: 46 articles met the inclusion criteria. "Symptomatic SPTD" was mentioned multiple times as an entity, however any description of "symptomatic SPTD" was not found. Pain was mentioned as a key factor in SPTD. Other patient related parameters were (progression of) neurological deficit, bone quality, age, comorbidities and functional disability. Various ways were used to determine the amount of deformity on radiographs. The amount of deformity ranged from not deviant for normal to >30°. Sagittal balance and spinopelvic parameters such as the Pelvic Incidence, Pelvic Tilt and Sacral Slope were taken into account and were used as surgical indicators and preoperative planning. The Visual Analog Scale for pain and the Oswestry Disability Index were used mostly to evaluate surgical intervention.

Conclusion: A clear-cut definition or consensus is not available in the literature about clinically relevant SPTD. Our research acts as the basis for international efforts for the development of a definition of SPTD.

Keywords: posttraumatic kyphosis; spinal posttraumatic deformity; spine trauma; systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow chart of the conducted search for the definition or description of SPTD following the PRISMA-statement.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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