The Paraspinal Sarcopenia at the Upper Instrumented Vertebra Is a Predictor of Discoligamentous but Not Bony Proximal...

Background/Objectives: Both poor bone quality and paraspinal sarcopenia have been suggested as risk factors for proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) at the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) following long-segment thoracolumbar fusion. Methods: Adults ≥50 with a T1-6 UIV were identified, and data were gathered on pre- and postoperative spinopelvic parameters, bone quality (using Hounsfield units and vertebral bone quality score), and paraspinal cross-sectional area at L3 and the UIV. PJK was defined by a ≥10° increase in the proximal junctional angle. Cox regressions were performed to identify PJK risk factors; PJK was subdivided into types 1-3 based on the Yagi-Boachie classification. Results: In total, 15/76 patients (median age 66; 72.4% female) experienced PJK; 10 experienced type 1, 4 experienced type 2, and one experienced type 3. Univariable Cox regression showed that PJK was negatively correlated with total paraspinal muscle CSA at the UIV (HR 0.74/100 mm²; 95% CI [0.57, 0.6]; p = 0.02). Lower total paraspinal CSA at L3 (HR 0.94/100 mm²; p = 0.07) and higher postoperative global tilt (HR 1.03; p = 0.09) also trended toward significance. Similarly, type 1 PJK was predicted by smaller total paraspinal CSA at the UIV (HR 0.64/100 mm²; [0.45, 0.92]; p = 0.02). Paraspinal CSA was not predictive of type 2 PJK, but lower HU at the UIV and UIV + 1 trended toward significance (HR 0.98/unit; p = 0.16). A comparison of type 1 and 2 PJK showed a higher average of paraspinal CSA and a lower average of HU at the UIV. Conclusions: Global alignment and paraspinal sarcopenia were most predictive of PJK, though paraspinal sarcopenia was only predictive of type 1. Type 2 may be better predicted by bone quality.