Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40828503›Full record

ArticleSpine deformity2026

Connective tissue disease patients do not have higher rates of PJK compared with idiopathic EOS following growth friendly instrumentation.

K Aaron Shaw, William Woodhams, John Smith, Paul Sponseller, Josh Pahys, Michael Vitale, Pediatric Spine Study Group, Brandon Ramo

Abstract readMulticenter StudyComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Spine deformity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

K Aaron ShawSpine Division, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA. Shaw.aaron82@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3553-2889
William WoodhamsSpine Division, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
John SmithDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Orthopaedic Partners, Heber City, UT, USA.
Paul SponsellerDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Josh PahysDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Philadelphia Shriners Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Michael VitaleDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Morgan Stanley's Children's Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
Pediatric Spine Study Group
Brandon RamoDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Dallas, TX, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeProximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is a condition frequently encountered in children with early onset scoliosis (EOS) undergoing growth-friendly instrumentation (GFI). Previous studies have identified risk factors but have not compared the rate of PJK between children with connective tissue disease (CTD) and idiopathic EOS (iEOS).

methodsRetrospective review of a multicenter spine database was performed. Patients with EOS undergoing GFI with a minimum of 5 years follow-up were identified and isolated to those with CTD (Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, Ehlers-Danlos, Soto, and Larsen) and idiopathic etiologies. PJK was defined as requiring revision surgery or as having > 10 degree change in proximal junctional angle (PJA). Surgical factors and implant variables were recorded. Radiographic parameters and complication development were compared between groups.

resultsA total of 253 children (mean 5.7 years, 57% female) were identified (CTD:49, iEOS:204). A total of 58 patients developed radiographic PJK (23%) with only 11 (18.9%, 4% of total cohort) undergoing revision surgery at 5 years following implantation. There were no identified surgical factors or radiographic variables associated with the development of PJK. In comparing the CTD and iEOS cohorts, there was no difference in PJK (CTD:26.5%, iEOS:22.1%; P = 0.5). Additionally, there were no significant differences between groups for preoperative or 5-year follow-up radiographic parameters, although there was a trend toward greater increase in PJA from post-implant to 5 years in CTD patients (CTD: 2.5 ± 13.8° vs - 0.01 ± 9.9; P = 0.08). CTD and iEOS patients gained similar thoracic heights, 26.6 ± 20.7 mm vs 26.9 ± 21.7 mm (P = 0.8). There was no difference in overall complication rate but CTD patients experienced a greater number of complications/patient (3.1 vs 2.0; P = 0.004).

conclusionPJK is a pervasive complication in EOS, occurring in 23% of patients undergoing GFI. Having an underlying CTD did not increase the risk of PJK development within 5 years of treatment.

Indexed as

Connective Tissue DiseasesKyphosisScoliosisSpinal FusionChildChild, PreschoolFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMalePostoperative ComplicationsRadiographyReoperationRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsConnective tissue diseaseEarly onset scoliosisGrowth-friendly instrumentationProximal junctional kyphosis

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.