T1 pelvic angle (TPA) effectively evaluates sagittal deformity and assesses radiographical surgical outcomes longitudinally.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective review of a multicenter database of consecutive patients undergoing 3-column osteotomy for treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD).

OBJECTIVE

To rigorously develop a T1 pelvic angle (TPA) categorization paradigm and use it to assess the surgical management of patients with ASD.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: TPA, the angle between the hips-T1 line and hips-S1 endplate line, is a novel spinopelvic parameter that assesses the combined effect of a loss of lordosis on trunk inclination and pelvic retroversion.

METHODS

A prospective, multicenter database of consecutive patients with ASD was queried to identify the severe deformity threshold and meaningful change values for TPA by correlation with Oswestry Disability Index. A separate multicenter, consecutive, retrospective database of patients with ASD treated with single lumbar 3-column osteotomy was then analyzed at baseline, 3-month, and 1-year follow-up. Subjects were classified into well-aligned or poorly aligned groups at 3 months on the basis of TPA. Patients "deteriorated" if they lost more than 1 meaningful change in TPA between 3 months and 1 year and had TPA more than deformity threshold at 1 year.

RESULTS

The severe deformity threshold for TPA was 20° (Oswestry Disability Index > 40) and the meaningful change was 4.1° (Oswestry Disability Index change = 15). Review of the 3-column osteotomy database identified 179 patients with preoperative severe deformity; 63 were well-aligned (TPA < 15.9°) and 73 were poorly aligned (TPA > 20°) at 3-month follow-up. This newly developed TPA categorization mechanism grouped patients in a manner comparable with the Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab Classification. Subjects who were well-aligned at 3 months had less severe baseline deformity, but received more correction, than poorly aligned subjects. Four well-aligned patients and 13 poorly aligned patients deteriorated between 3 months and 1 year after surgery.

CONCLUSION

TPA accounts for sagittal vertical axis and pelvic tilt and shows great promise as a classification tool. Longitudinal analysis demonstrated undercorrection among patients with more severe preoperative deformity. We propose a surgical target of 10° for TPA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.