Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40405744›Full record

ArticleOrthopaedic surgery2025

Late-Onset Spinal Cord Dysfunction in Rigid Posttraumatic Thoracolumbar Kyphosis: Radiographic Analysis of Neurological Compromise.

Jiaqi Zhang, Yinhao Liu, Yan Zeng, Weishi Li

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Article in Orthopaedic surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Jiaqi ZhangDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7449-4176
Yinhao LiuDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Yan ZengDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Weishi LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272540
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveLate-onset neurological deficit is a severe complication usually attributed to the medullary compression at the apex as the kyphotic deformity develops gradually. However, little is known about another rare cause of proximal adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) above the kyphosis. This study aimed to report the surgical outcome of rigid posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis combined with neurological deficits and to illustrate the different causes of late-onset spinal cord dysfunction and their relationship to spinopelvic alignment.

methodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 39 patients with rigid posttraumatic thoracolumbar kyphosis who underwent surgical correction were enrolled. All patients had late-onset spinal cord dysfunction, and the causes were classified according to the location of the lesion. Patients were divided into Group A (patients without proximal ASD) and Group B (patients with proximal ASD). Neurologic status was graded using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale. The visual analog scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores-29 (JOA-29) were utilized for clinical assessment. Radiographic parameters of X-ray and MRI were compared between the two groups.

resultsTwenty-three patients (59.0%) had neurological deficits only resulting from the kyphosis itself, and 10 patients (25.6%) had developed neurological dysfunction related to thoracic stenosis above the kyphosis. The remaining six patients (15.4%) had coexisting compression both at and above the kyphotic apex. All the ASD occurred in the lower thoracic spine, and the level of T10/11 was the most involved site. Patients who developed proximal ASD had significantly smaller adjacent thoracic kyphosis (ATK) (1.2 ± 9.6 vs. 14.4 ± 11.6, p < 0.001). These patients had significantly worse preoperative ASIA grades and lower JOA-29 at final follow-up.

conclusionsProximal ASD above kyphosis could cause late-onset neurological deterioration. Compensatory lordosis in the lower thoracic spine might be associated with degenerative spinal stenosis. The dominant compensatory mechanism might be a decisive factor in developing proximal ASD.

Indexed as

KyphosisLumbar VertebraeThoracic VertebraeAdultAgedFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedRadiographyRetrospective Studiesadjacent segment degenerationposttraumatic kyphosisspinal cord dysfunctionspinopelvic alignmentthoracolumbar spine

Identifiers

PMID40405744
PMCPMC12214405

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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.