Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38384146›Full record

ArticleOrthopaedic surgery2024

Distal Junctional Failures in Degenerative Thoracolumbar Hyperkyphosis.

Yongqiang Wang, Junyu Li, Yu Xi, Yan Zeng, Miao Yu, Zhuoran Sun, Yinghong Ma, Zhongjun Liu, Zhongqiang Chen, Weishi Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Orthopaedic surgery, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Distal junctional failure in posterior cervical and cervicothoracic fusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis of associated factors.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Pooled it
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  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yongqiang WangDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Junyu LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yu XiPeking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
Yan ZengDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Miao YuDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0046-4844
Zhuoran SunDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yinghong MaPeking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
Zhongjun LiuDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Zhongqiang ChenDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Weishi LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9512-5436

Funding

Beijing Natural Science Foundation 7232204National Natural Science Foundation of China 81871807
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveDegenerative thoracolumbar hyperkyphosis (DTH) is a disease that negatively affects individual health and requires surgical intervention, yet the ideal surgical approach and complications, especially distal junctional failures (DJF), remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate DJF in DTH and to identify the risk factors for DJF so that we can improve surgical decision-making, and advance our knowledge in the field of spinal surgery to enhance patient outcomes.

methodsThis study retrospectively reviewed 78 cases (late osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture [OVCF], 51; Scheuermann's kyphosis [SK], 17; and degenerative disc diseases [DDD], 10) who underwent corrective surgery in our institute from 2008 to 2019. Clinical outcomes were assessed using health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures, including the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system. Multiple radiographic parameters, such as global kyphosis (GK) and thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), were assessed to determine radiographic outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors associated with DJF.

resultsHRQOL improved, and GK, TLK decreased at the final follow-up, with a correction rate of 67.7% and 68.5%, respectively. DJF was found in 13 of 78 cases (16.7%), two cases had wedging in the disc (L3-4) below the instrumentation, one case had a fracture of the lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV), one case had osteoporotic fracture below the fixation, nine cases had pull-out or loosening of the screws at the LIV and three cases (23.1%) required revision surgery. The DJF group had older age, lower computed tomography Hounsfield unit (CT HU), longer follow-up, more blood loss, greater preoperative sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and poorer postoperative JOA and VAS scores (back). The change in TLK level was larger in the non-DJF group. Post-sagittal stable vertebrae (SSV) moved cranially compared with pre-SSV.

conclusionAge, CT HU, length of follow-up, estimated blood loss, and preoperative SVA were independent risk factors for DJF. We recommend fixation of the two vertebrae below the apex vertebrae for DTH to minimize surgical trauma.

Indexed as

Fractures, CompressionKyphosisOsteoporotic FracturesSpinal FracturesSpinal FusionHumansLumbar VertebraeQuality of LifeRetrospective StudiesThoracic VertebraeTreatment OutcomeDegenerative thoracolumbar hyperkyphosisDistal junctional failuresFusion rangeRisk factorSagittal stable vertebra

Identifiers

PMID38384146
PMCPMC10984817

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.