Outcomes of Posterior Spinal Fusion in Pediatric Patients with Down Syndrome

Developmental delay increases risk for complications within 30 days of pediatric spinal fusion surgery

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether developmental delay is a risk factor for postoperative complications following pediatric spinal fusion.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric database was queried to retrospectively identify patients who had undergone spinal fusions between 2016 and 2021. The study population was divided into two distinct groups 1) Patients with developmental delay 2) who have no delay. T-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables were used to identify differences in perioperative characteristics between the two groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis assessed the effect of preoperative developmental delay on post-operative surgical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 32,621 pediatric spinal fusion patients were identified, of which 7,637 had developmental delay and 24,984 had no delay. The developmental delay group had a higher rate of surgical complications and medical complications (5.38% vs 1.41%, p < 0.001). Developmental delay independently increased the risk for medical complications (OR: 1.099, 95% CI: (1.009-1.978), surgical complications (OR: 1.4833, 95% CI (1.197-1.838), extended hospital LOS (OR: 1.250, 95% CI (1.028-1.518), intensive care unit stay (OR: 1.333, 95% CI (1.227-1.446), and death (OR: 9.638, 95% CI: 2.150-68.700) following a multivariate logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Patients with developmental delay undergoing pediatric spinal fusion had an increased risk for surgical complications. The findings of this study serve as a valuable resource in aiding surgeons in preoperative risk assessment and in facilitating comprehensive discussions with patients and their caregivers.

More Than a Flesh Wound: Trisomy 21 Patients Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis Have High Odds of Wound Complications

Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.ObjectivesPatients with trisomy 21 (T21) often have soft tissue differences that lead to greater risk of postoperative wound complications. Our aim was to use a matched cohort of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with >2 year outcomes to determine odds of specific wound complications when comparing T21 and AIS patients.Methods14 T21 and 544 AIS patients were available for matching. Propensity score matching was conducted using logistic regression models and yielded a 1:5 match of 14 T21 patients and 70 AIS patients. Bivariate analyses were conducted across both patient groups. The proportion of wound complications was estimated along with a 95% confidence interval. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to determine if there was a significant association between T21 patients and wound outcomes.Results64% of T21 patients experienced a wound complication (9/14; 95% CI = 35.63-86.02) while only 3% of the AIS patients experienced a wound complication (2/70; 95% CI = .50-10.86). Patients with T21 had 56.6 times the odds of having a wound complication compared to matched AIS patients (OR = 56.57; 95% CI = 8.12-394.35; P < .001), controlling for age at surgery, BMI percentile, and propensity score. T21 patients had 10.4 times the odds of reoperation compared to AIS patients (OR = 10.36; 95% CI = 1.62-66.02; P = .01).ConclusionT21 patients have 10.4× the odds of reoperation and 56.6× the odds of overall wound complication when compared to AIS patients in a 1:5 matched cohort with appropriate controls. This is important for surgical planning, surgeon awareness, and communication with families preoperatively.

Acute postoperative complications after spine deformity correction in patients with Down syndrome

Introduction

Down syndrome, or trisomy 21, is the most diagnosed chromosomal abnormality and is associated with multiple orthopedic concerns, including scoliosis. We sought to examine the surgical treatment of scoliosis associated with Down syndrome with an emphasis on specific complications in this population.

Methods

A retrospective review of 13 patients with Down syndrome who underwent surgical intervention for spinal deformity between 2000 and 2018 were identified. Postoperative complications were classified using the modified Clavien-Dindo-Sink system. Perioperative and final follow-up radiographic data were analyzed.

Results

The mean age at surgery was 14.2 years (11-19) with a mean follow-up of 3.6 years (0.4-6.2) at the time of data collection. Seven (54%) patients had postoperative complications, all related to wound healing. Three patients (23%) had major complications (Clavien-Dindo-Sink grade ≥3). These included one deep surgical site infection, one hematoma, and one seroma, all requiring surgical drainage. Four additional patients (31%) had minor complications (Clavien-Dindo-Sink grade ≤2).

Discussion

Surgical intervention for scoliosis in patients with Down syndrome is associated with high complication rates despite the use of more modern surgical techniques and implant types. Complications in this cohort primarily involved wound healing, whereas previous studies described high rates of postoperative implant failure, pseudoarthrosis, and significant curve progression, which were not experienced by the patients in this study. Although the etiology of wound-related complications is unknown, awareness of this risk may help surgeons optimize surgical technique, postoperative monitoring, and preoperative counseling of families.

Level of Evidence

IV-single-institution retrospective case series.

Paediatric syndromic scoliosis: proceedings of the half-day course at the 57th annual meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society

There are some syndromes that present with unique manifestations pertaining to the spinal column. A good working understanding of these common syndromes is useful for the spinal deformity surgeons and related healthcare providers. This review attempts to encompass these unique features and discuss them in three broad groups: hypermobility syndromes, muscle pathology-related syndromes, and syndromes related to poor bone quality. This review explores the features of these syndromes underpinning the aspects of surgical and medical management. This review represents the proceedings of the Paediatric Half-Day Course at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society.