Preoperative cervical alignment can affect the occurrence of proximal junctional kyphosis in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of and risk factors for proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and evaluate its relationship with cervical alignment.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the patients with AIS who underwent surgery. The patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of PJK. Demographic data, radiographic parameters, and 22-item Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire (revised) (SRS-22r) scores were compared. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for PJK.

RESULTS

Eleven (5.6%) out of 195 patients had PJK. PJK was significantly more common in patients with upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) at T6 (33%) than in those with a UIV at T2-5 (4.8%). PJK was observed in 7 out of 107 patients (6.5%) with pedicle screw constructs and in 4 of 88 patients (4.5%) with hybrid constructs, showing no significant difference. The PJK (+) group had significantly greater preoperative cervical lordosis (CL) (1.5° vs. - 9.5°), greater C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (C2-7 SVA) (30.6 vs. 24.3 mm), greater T1 slope (20.5° vs. 12.5°), and greater T1-12 thoracic kyphosis (32.5° vs. 21.3°) than the PJK (-) group. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative CL and C2-7 SVA as independent risk factors for PJK. There was no difference in the SRS-22r scores between patients with and without PJK.

CONCLUSION

Patients with greater preoperative CL, and greater C2-7 SVA have a higher likelihood of developing PJK than their counterparts.