The Current Status of Spinal Posttraumatic Deformity: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Spine surgery
• Orthopedics
• Traumatology

Background:

• Spinal Posttraumatic Deformity (SPTD) lacks a standardized definition in existing literature.
• Clinical management and research are hindered by the absence of a uniform understanding of SPTD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze literature definitions and descriptions of SPTD.
• To provide a foundation for developing a comprehensive and clinically relevant definition of SPTD.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across 11 international databases.
• Articles were included if they provided original definitions or descriptions of SPTD, encompassing patient factors, radiological outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and surgical indications.
• Methodological quality assessment and data extraction were performed on retrieved articles.

Main Results:

• 46 articles met the inclusion criteria; no consistent definition for symptomatic SPTD was found.
• Pain was identified as a key factor, with other patient parameters including neurological deficit, bone quality, age, and functional disability.
• Radiographic assessment of deformity varied, with measurements ranging widely; sagittal balance and spinopelvic parameters were utilized for surgical planning.

Conclusions:

• There is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding a clear definition of clinically relevant SPTD.
• This systematic review serves as a basis for international efforts to establish a standardized definition of SPTD.