Association Between Age and Complications in Adult Scoliosis Surgery: An Analysis of the Scoliosis Research Society Morbidity and Mortality Database. Issue 6 (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaw, Richard; Skovrlj, Branko; Cho, Samuel K.
• Is Part Of: Spine. Volume 41:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 508
• Page End: 514
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: adult scoliosis -- age -- complications -- deformity -- degenerative scoliosis -- morbidity -- mortality -- spine surgery; Spine -- Abnormalities -- Periodicals; Spine -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Spine -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 616.73005
• DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001239
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-2436

Abstract

Abstract : Study Design: Retrospective review. Objective: To assess the relationship between age and complications, and report age-stratified complication rates for the surgical treatment of adult scoliosis. Summary of Background Data: Literature examining age and complication rates for adult scoliosis surgery is conflicting. The Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) morbidity and mortality (M&M) database contains a large series of adult scoliosis patients that can be utilized to investigate this relationship. Methods: The SRS M&M database was queried from 2004 to 2007 to identify all cases of adult scoliosis. Data pertaining to patient age, complications, scoliosis, and surgery type were extracted from the database. Age-based analyses of clinical parameters were conducted using age as both a stratified categorical variable and as a continuous variable. Results: In our cohort of 5470 adult scoliosis patients, the overall complication rate was 13.5% and there was a 0.3% mortality rate. Patients who experienced complications were significantly older than those without complications (55.9 ± 16.5 yrs vs. 51.2 ± 18.7 yrs, P < 0.001). When complications were stratified according to decade of age, there was also a statistically significant trend of increasing complication rates with each decade of life ( P < 0.001). Dural tears were the most common complication in patients over 50 years, whereas implant-related complications were the most common in patients less than 50 years. Conclusion: There was a clear association between increasing age and higher rates of major short-term complications, a factor that ought to be taken into account during treatment decision making and patient counseling. Level of Evidence: 4