Neuromuscular Scoliosis: Comorbidities and Complications

Single-center, retrospective cohort study conducted from 2013 to 2017.

To determine the risk factors for surgical complications in neuromuscular scoliosis based on known patient comorbidities.

The concept of neuromuscular scoliosis includes a wide variety of pathologies affecting the neuromuscular system. Complications are numerous and are often difficult to predict.

A retrospective analysis of a single-center database was conducted from 2013 to 2017. Inclusion criteria were patients aged <25 years, diagnosis of neuromuscular scoliosis, and history of posterior fusion deformity surgery. A total of 64 patients (mean age, 15 years; 63% females) were included in this study. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory parameters in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings were analyzed. Univariate analysis was performed using Student t-test for continuous variables, and a chi-square test was used for noncontinuous variables. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of major, mechanical, and total complications.

Complications were found in 44% of patients, with 46.9% consisting of major complications, and 84.4% being early complications. Univariate analysis revealed that the presence of perinatal comorbidities, independent of other comorbidities, increased the risk for complications (p=0.029). Preoperative hypoglycemia, high number of instrumented levels, longer surgical time, use of an all-screw construct, lower preoperative pelvic obliquity, postoperative lower kyphosis, high thoracic spinopelvic angle (as measured by T9 spino-pelvic inclination), absence of deep drain, and use of superficial drain were associated with postoperative complications (all p<0.05). Logistic regression demonstrated that comorbidities, longer surgical time, hypoglycemia, and absence of deep drains are predictors of complications. Independent variables that predicted major complications were the number of levels fused, postoperative kyphosis (p=0.025; odds ratio [OR], 1.074), and high screw density (p=0.014; OR, 4.380).

Complications in neuromuscular scoliosis are increased by comorbidities, long surgical time, and inadequate correction. Preventative measures to decrease these complications include appropriate preoperative patient preparation and surgical planning.