Is Reoperation Within 6 Months of Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Associated With Worse Outcomes?

In a cohort of patients undergoing Adult Spinal Deformity (ASD) surgery, we sought to (1) report the rate of and reason for reoperation within 6 months of the index surgery and (2) determine the association between early reoperation and 2-year patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

A single-institution, retrospective cohort study was performed for patients undergoing ASD surgery from 2009 to 2021. The primary outcomes included early reoperations within 6 months and reason for reoperation, including proximal junctional kyphosis/failure (PJK/F), distal junctional kyphosis, pseudarthrosis/rod fracture, and implant failure. Secondary outcomes included all mechanical complications requiring reoperation beyond 6 months and PROMs. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were performed.

Of 238 patients undergoing ASD surgery, 19 (8%) underwent early reoperation within 6 months primarily for PJK/F (42%), distal junctional kyphosis (11%), implant failure (11%), and pseudarthrosis (11%). Early reoperation was significantly more likely in patients with 2+ comorbidities (63.2% vs 38.6%, P = .038) but did not predict future reoperation beyond 6 months (47.4% vs 58.0%; P = .159). At 2 years, patients with early reoperation had worse PROMs: higher Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (53.9 vs 33.8, P = .001), Numeric Rating Scales for back pain (NRS-BP) (6.8 vs 4.7, P = .019), Numeric Rating Scales for leg pain (NRS-LP) (5.7 vs 2.8, P = .004) and lower EuroQoL Group questionnaire (EQ-5D) (0.50 vs 0.70, P = .003). There was less improvement in ODI (-16.6 vs -2.0, P = .025) and EQ-5D (0.0 vs 0.2, P = .038), with no significant change in NRS-BP ( P = .051) and NRS-LP ( P = .115). Early reoperation was linked to decreased odds of ODI improvement (OR 14.41, P = .028).

Reoperation within 6 months after ASD surgery occurred in 8% of patients at mean 85.5 days, primarily because of PJK/F (42%). Early reoperations did not significantly increase the rate of subsequent reoperations beyond 6 months. Patients with early reoperation within 6 months had worse ODI, NRS-BP, and NRS-LP and less improvement in ODI and EQ-5D, but no difference in change for NRS-BP and NRS-LP. Early reoperation significantly decreased odds of ODI improvement.