Comparison of posterior correction results between Marfan syndrome scoliosis and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis-a retrospective case-series study

Increased Rate of Complications Following Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients Who Have Marfan Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Outcomes of Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are poorly documented in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate MFS as a potential risk factor for complications after TKA.

METHODS

Using a national private payer insurance database from 2010 to 2022, MFS patients undergoing primary TKA were identified and compared to 10:1 matched controls based on age, sex, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and a comorbidity index. A total of 4,092 patients undergoing primary TKA were analyzed, of which 372 had MFS. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were done for medical complications up to 90 days and surgical complications up to 2 years. 90-day emergency department-visits and inpatient readmissions were also documented.

RESULTS

Compared to the matched controls, patients who have MFS displayed elevated rates of surgical complications, including prosthetic instability (1-year, odds ratio (OR) 3.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.58 to 8.66]; 2-year, OR 4.39, 95% CI [2.16 to 8.44]), and revision surgery (2 year, OR 1.79, 95% CI [1.05 to 2.91]). Additionally, patients who have MFS demonstrated significant higher rates of medical complications, including aortic dissection (2.15 versus 0%) and transfusion (OR 2.63, 95% CI [1.31 to 4.90]).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who have MFS are at higher risks of postoperative complications after TKA, encompassing both medical and surgical complications. Specifically, patients who have MFS have a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing prosthetic instability and requiring revision surgery. Given these results, it is crucial for orthopedic surgeons and patients alike to consider these risks when determining a course of TKA for patients who have MFS.

Impact of pathogenic FBN1 variant types on the development of severe scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome

BACKGROUND

Among the several musculoskeletal manifestations in patients with Marfan syndrome, spinal deformity causes pain and respiratory impairment and is a great hindrance to patients' daily activities. The present study elucidates the genetic risk factors for the development of severe scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 278 patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic FBN1 variants. The patients were divided into those with (n=57) or without (n=221) severe scoliosis. Severe scoliosis was defined as (1) patients undergoing surgery before 50 years of age or (2) patients with a Cobb angle exceeding 50° before 50 years of age. The variants were classified as protein-truncating variants (PTVs), which included variants creating premature termination codons and inframe exon-skipping, or non-PTVs, based on their location and predicted amino acid alterations, and the effect of the FBN1 genotype on the development of severe scoliosis was examined. The impact of location of FBN1 variants on the development of severe scoliosis was also investigated.

RESULTS

Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that female sex, PTVs of FBN1 and variants in the neonatal region (exons 25-33) were all independent significant predictive factors for the development of severe scoliosis. Furthermore, these factors were identified as predictors of progression of existing scoliosis into severe state.

CONCLUSIONS

We elucidated the genetic risk factors for the development of severe scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome. Patients harbouring pathogenic FBN1 variants with these genetic risk factors should be monitored carefully for scoliosis progression.

Surgical outcome of scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome

PURPOSE

To evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes after surgical scoliosis correction and posterior instrumented fusion in SMF patients.

METHODS

A single-center medical database was reviewed to identify MF patients who presented with scoliosis from 2000 to 2015. Patients who underwent spinal fusion surgery were included. Demographic, operative and clinical data were reviewed, and the preoperative, postoperative, and latest follow-up radiographic parameters were compared.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were identified (2 males, 10 females) with an average age at surgery of 14.4 ± 2.6 years. Comorbidities were found in 84.6%. Most patients (90.9%) presented with a right thoracic curve. The average preoperative Cobb angle was 75.6 ± 15.5 degrees. Posterior instrumented spinal fusion was performed in all patients (1 hook/pedicular screw and 11 pedicle screws only). The average follow-up period was 6.8 ± 3.1 years. The mean postoperative Cobb angle after surgery and at the final follow-up was 33.4 ± 18.0 degrees and 35.5 ± 18.4 degrees, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference among the preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles (p < 0.001), but no significant difference among the sagittal angles. Two perioperative complications including superficial wound infection and broken rods were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Posterior scoliosis correction and instrumented spinal fusion resulted in a satisfactory outcome in MF patients. Perioperative complications are not uncommon; however, no neurological complication or spinal decompensation was observed in this study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Intraoperative hypotension during surgical treatment for Marfan syndrome scoliosis in children

PURPOSE

To explore the occurrence and risk factors of intraoperative hypotension during children's Marfan syndrome scoliosis surgery and summarize the associated hemodynamic features and handle measures.

METHODS

Twenty-two Marfan syndrome scoliosis patients who underwent spinal surgery at Beijing Children's Hospital were retrospectively reviewed between January 2001 and January 2020. Intraoperative hypotension is defined as the minimum mean arterial pressure ≤ 60 mm Hg. The patients were divided into the hypotension group and the control group. Clinical, radiographic, and operative data were compared between the two groups. The risk factors, hemodynamic features, and handle measures for intraoperative hypotension in Marfan syndrome scoliosis surgery were analyzed and summarized.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 11.4 years at initial surgery. The follow-up period ranged from 24 to 152 months. Intraoperative hypotension occurred in 14 cases, with an incidence of 63.6%. The proportion of pulmonary dysfunction in the hypotension group was higher than in the control group (100.0% vs 50.0%, p < 0.05). The spinal flexibility was significantly lower in the hypotension group (28.3% ± 14.2% vs 46.5% ± 11.5%, p < 0.05). Fourteen patients with intraoperative hypotension had decreased intraoperative systolic blood pressure 21.0%-50.0% compared with baseline. One patient had a transient decrease in the muscle strength of the lower limbs. No complications were observed during the follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of intraoperative hypotension in Marfan syndrome scoliosis children who underwent surgery was 63.6%. The risk factors included preoperative pulmonary dysfunction and poor spinal flexibility. Comprehensive preoperative evaluation and effective hemodynamic handling measures should be undertaken to prevent further complications in children with Marfan syndrome scoliosis.

Marfan syndrome and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients have similar 90-day postoperative outcomes and 5-year reoperation rates after spinal deformity surgery

PURPOSE

Outcomes after spinal deformity surgery in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are poorly characterized given the rarity of the condition. Updated analyses from nationally representative samples, and comparison to outcomes after more commonly performed procedures for conditions such as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) could help define the relative risks.

METHODS

Using the 2010-2020 PearlDiver administrative databases, patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion for > 7 segments were extracted. MFS patients were matched 1:4 to AIS patients based on age, sex, and Elixhauer comorbidity index (ECI). Ninety-day outcomes and 5-year reoperation rates were compared. Significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

In total, 206 MFS patients were matched to 825 AIS patients. After adjusting for age, sex, and ECI, multivariate odds ratios (OR) for 90-day any, serious, and minor adverse events, as well as readmissions, were not significantly different for those with MFS compared to those with AIS (p > 0.05 for each). Five-year reoperation rates were also not significantly different (13.1% for the MFS cohort and 13.0% for the AIS cohort (no difference by log-rank, p = 0.9).

CONCLUSION

While deformity surgery is much less commonly performed for MFS than AIS, it is not uncommonly considered for patients with this condition. Despite some known technical challenges for MFS deformity surgery, the current study leveraged a large, national database to find that 90-day adverse events and 5-year reoperations were not different for matched MFS and AIS patients undergoing deformity surgery. For select patients, these findings should be useful for surgical planning and patient counseling.

Tranexamic acid use is associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss during spine surgery for Marfan syndrome

PURPOSE

The utility of tranexamic acid (TXA) in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) is uncertain given associated aberrations within the vasculature and clotting cascade. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association of TXA use with intraoperative blood loss and allogeneic blood transfusions in patients with MFS who underwent spinal arthrodesis.

METHODS

We queried our institutional database for MFS patients who underwent spinal arthrodesis for scoliosis between 2000 and 2020 by one surgeon. We excluded procedures spanning < 4 vertebral levels, those using anterior or combined anterior/posterior approaches, and those involving growing rods, postoperative infection, or spondylolisthesis. Fifty-two patients met our criteria, of whom 22 were treated with TXA and 30 were not. Mean differences in blood loss, transfusion volume, and proportions receiving transfusion were compared between TXA and the control groups using Student t, chi-squared, or Fisher exact tests. Alpha = 0.05.

RESULTS

MFS patients treated with TXA experienced less mean (± standard deviation) intraoperative blood loss (1023 ± 534 mL) compared to the control group (1436 ± 1022 mL) (p = 0.01). The TXA group had estimated blood volume loss of 27% ± 16% compared to 36% ± 21% for controls (p = 0.05). No differences were found in allogeneic transfusion rate (p = 0.66) or transfusion volume (p = 0.15).

CONCLUSIONS

We found an association between TXA use and reduced blood loss during surgical treatment of MFS-associated scoliosis, suggesting that the connective tissue deficiency in MFS does not interfere with TXA's mechanism of action.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Predictive Physical Manifestations for Progression of Scoliosis in Marfan Syndrome

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective study of the prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the accurate distribution of the severity of scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome, and to identify the predictive physical features for progression of scoliosis in Marfan syndrome.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

To date, no study has unveiled the risk factors for the progression of scoliosis in Marfan syndrome.

METHODS

We retrospectively obtained data from a prospective cohort of the Marfan syndrome clinic at our institute. We enrolled patients whose whole spine radiographs in the standing position were evaluated at the age of 15 or above, from January 2014 to March 2020. The collected variables were physical manifestations defined as in the systemic score of the revised Ghent nosology. We classified the degree of scoliosis into four categories: "not apparent," "mild" (10° ≤ Cobb < 25°), "moderate" (25° ≤ Cobb < 40°), and "severe" (40° ≤ Cobb or surgery conducted). To identify the risk factors for progression of scoliosis in Marfan syndrome, we conducted univariate and multivariate association analyses between severe scoliosis and each physical manifestation.

RESULTS

We identified 131 eligible patients (61 men and 70 women) with a mean age of 31.2 years. Scoliosis with a Cobb angle of ≥10° was identified in 116 patients (88.5%). Moderate scoliosis was identified in 33 patients (25.2%) and severe scoliosis in 53 patients (40.5%). The prevalence of each physical manifestation was equivalent to that reported in previous studies. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex (odds ratio, 3.27) and positive wrist sign (4.45) were predictive factors for progression of scoliosis into severe state in patients with Marfan syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated the accurate distribution of the severity of scoliosis and identified the predictive factors for progression of scoliosis in patients with Marfan syndrome.Level of Evidence: 3.

Growth-friendly Spinal Instrumentation in Marfan Syndrome Achieves Sustained Gains in Thoracic Height Amidst High Rates of Implant Failure

BACKGROUND

There are few reports on the surgical management of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) associated with Marfan syndrome (MFS). Affected patients tend to have more rapid curve progression than those with idiopathic EOS, and their course is further complicated by medical comorbidities. As surgical techniques and implants for growing spines become more widely applied, this study seeks to better delineate the safety and efficacy of growth-friendly spinal instrumentation in treating this population.

METHODS

A prospective registry of children treated for EOS was queried for MFS patients treated between 1996 and 2016. Forty-two patients underwent rib-based or spine-based growing instrumentation and were assessed on preoperative, surgical, and postoperative clinical and radiographic parameters including complications and reoperations. Subgroup analysis was performed based on spine-based versus rib-based fixation.

RESULTS

Patients underwent their index surgery at a mean age of 5.5 years, when the major coronal curve and kyphosis measured 77 and 50 degrees, respectively. Over half were treated with traditional growing rods. Patients underwent 7.2 total surgical procedures-4.7 lengthening and 1.9 revision surgeries not including conversion to fusion-over a follow-up of 6.5 (±4.1) years. Radiographic correction was greatest at index surgery but maintained over time, with a final thoracic height measuring 23.8 cm. Patients experienced a mean of 2.6 complications over the course of the study period; however, a small group of 6 patients experienced ≥6 complications while over half of patients experienced 0 or 1. Implant failures represented 42% of all complications with infection and pulmonary complications following.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest report on patients with EOS and MFS. All subtypes of growth-friendly constructs reduced curve progression in this cohort, but complications and reoperations were nearly universal; patients were particularly plagued by implant failure and migration. Further collaborations are needed to enhance understanding of optimal timing and fixation constructs for those with MFS and other connective tissue diseases.

Trends in spinal deformity surgery in Marfan syndrome

STUDY DESIGN

Analysis of a national database.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze trends in fusion surgery for spinal deformity in Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients, compare patients with and without Marfan, and evaluate differences in surgical approaches.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

National trends of fusion surgery for spinal deformities in MFS patients are not known. Given the rarity of MFS and the nuanced differences in the spinal deformity it causes, it is important to explore differences in fusion surgery between spinal deformity patients with and without MFS.

METHODS

We identified 314 patients (1,410 weighted) with a diagnosis of MFS and spinal deformity who underwent spinal fusion between the years 2003 and 2014. Our primary outcome was national trends in the use of posterior (PSF), anterior-posterior (APSF), and anterior (ASF) spinal fusions. We also compared perioperative complications, mortality rate, length of stay, and hospital charges in a propensity score matched sample of spinal fusion patients with and without a diagnosis of MFS.

RESULTS

The proportion of PSF surgeries increased significantly (p<.01) from 66.7% in 2003 to 92.0% in 2014. MFS patients were more likely to have higher neurologic (2.4% vs. 0.79%, p=.01) complications. There was a significant association between age and approach (p<.01). PSF had a mean age of 20.2, whereas APSF and ASF had mean ages of 27.1 and 35.2, respectively. Approximately 62% of cervical fusions used ASF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides findings from the largest sample analyzed to date and is the only thus far that investigates national trends. Our results are largely consistent with those of other works in that MFS patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery have higher neurologic complications. We also report that surgical treatment has shifted toward a posterior approach. Our findings can give surgeons a better understanding of the postoperative complications and changing national trends in spinal fusion surgery for patients with MFS.

Marfan Syndrome: A Clinical Update

Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder that can affect many organ systems. Affected patients present with orthopaedic manifestations of the syndrome during all phases of life. Pain caused by musculoskeletal abnormalities often requires definitive orthopaedic treatment. Orthopaedic surgeons must understand the phenotypes of Marfan syndrome so they can recognize when screening is warranted and can appropriately address the skeletal manifestations. Through medical advancements, patients with Marfan syndrome are living longer and more active lives. Knowledge of the latest diagnostic criteria for the disorder, as well as of advances in understanding the skeletal phenotype, clinical trials of medication therapy, and lifestyle considerations is important for orthopaedic surgeons who treat these patients because these clinicians often are the first to suspect Marfan syndrome and recommend screening.