State-of-the-art: outcome assessment in adult spinal deformity

Adult spinal deformity (ASD) is a diagnosis that encompasses heterogeneous disorders with an increasing prevalence. This increasing prevalence may be due to greater patient longevity or greater awareness of available treatments. Outcome assessment in ASD has evolved over the last 3 decades from physician-based assessments to a patient-centered perception of improvement. Outcome assessment that is reliable, accurate and responsive to change is especially important in ASD, as surgical treatment is known to carry a high cost and complication rate Glassman (Spine Deform 3:199-203, 2015); Glassman (Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 32: 2764-2770, 2007); Smith (J Neurosurg Spine 25:1-14, 2016). In an era of value-based care, diagnosis associated with such heterogeneity and high cost must provide sound evidence to support the cost versus outcome ratio. Numerous general health and disease specific patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been utilized in ASD. We discuss these instruments in detail in the following state-of-the-art review.