Objective We aimed to investigate the incidence of delayed-onset neurological deficits (DONDs), DOND-related reoperation rates following adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, and efficacy of transverse process hooks (TPHs) at the uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV) compared to pedicle screws (PSs).
Methods We included 90 consecutive patients who underwent instrumented fusion from the sacrum to the distal thoracic spine for ASD, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Clinical and radiological outcomes were compared between 33 patients in the TPH group and 57 patients in the PS group, using the Scoliosis Research Society-22 Outcomes questionnaire (SRS-22), Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and various spinal sagittal parameters.
Results While absent in the TPH group, myelopathy occurred in 15.8% of the PS group, wherein 15 patients underwent reoperation. The change in the proximal junctional angle, from the pre- to postoperative assessment, was lower in the TPH group than in the PS group (0.2 vs. 6.6, p=0.002). Postoperative facet degeneration in the PS group progressed more significantly than in the TPH group (0.5 vs. 0.1, p=0.002). Surgical outcomes were comparable for both groups, except for the back visual analogue scale (3.5 vs. 4.1, p=0.010) and SRS-22 domains, including pain and satisfaction (3.3 vs. 2.9, p=0.033; 3.7 vs. 3.3, p=0.041). No intergroup difference was observed in SF-36.
Conclusion Using TPHs at the UIV level can prevent DOND, and thereby prevent postoperative myelopathy that necessitates reoperation; thus, TPHs is preferable over PSs in ASD surgery.
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Clinical and radiological outcomes of transverse process hooks versus pedicle screws at the upper instrumented vertebra in adult spinal deformity patients undergoing three-column osteotomy: A retrospective comparative study Mohsen Rostami, Sadegh Bagherzadeh, Navid Moghadam, Faramarz Roohollahi, Cesar Carballo Cuello, Jay Kumar, Mark Greenberg, Puya Alikhani Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery.2026; 261: 109263. CrossRef
Comparison of Hook Fixation and Vertebroplasty for Prevention of Proximal Junctional Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study Sung Tan Cho, Jae Hwan Cho, Dong-Ho Lee, Chang Ju Hwang, Sehan Park, Jin Hwan Kim, Wongthawat Liawrungrueang Global Spine Journal.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
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Objective The anterior controllable antedisplacement and fusion (ACAF) technique is a new procedure for the treatment of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) that requires management of the disc adjacent to the ossification. This study describes a novel technique to reduce the number of fixed segments, namely, the “Klotski technique.” The efficacy of ACAF using the Klotski technique was compared with that of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) in the treatment of OPLL with en bloc type dural ossification (DO).
Methods The clinical data of 25 patients with severe OPLL and en bloc type DO who were treated by the ACAF Klotski technique or ACCF at our hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. In the Klotski technique, the number of segments fused within the OPLL is limited. The antedisplacement space was designed according to the shape of the vertebrae-OPLL-DO complex (VODC). Then, the entire VODC was antedisplaced as in Klotski. Neurological function and image examination were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. Complications associated with surgery were recorded.
Results Patients were followed up for 24–36 months. There were 11 patients who were treated with ACAF and 14 patients who were treated with ACCF. At 2 weeks after surgery, the incidence of neurological deterioration was 21.4% (3 of 14) in the ACCF group and 9.1%
(1 of 11) in the ACAF group. The incidence of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (CFL) was 35.7% (5 of 14) in the ACCF group and 9.1% (1 of 11) in the ACAF group. The postoperative follow-up JOA scores of the patients in both groups were significantly better than their preoperative JOA scores (p<0.05).
Conclusion The Klotski technique for ACAF is a good option for the treatment of patients with en bloc type OPLL-DO, as it limits the number of fused segments, has a low incidence of CFL and neurologic deficits and is associated with good neurological recovery.
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Biportal Endoscopic Techniques for Severe Dural Ossification in Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum: Insights From Preoperative Imaging Ji Yeon Kim, Su Yong Choi, Dong Chan Lee, Hyeun Sung Kim, Dong Hwa Heo Neurospine.2025; 22(3): 819. CrossRef
Objective Few studies have reported radiographic and clinical outcomes of transverse process hook (TPH) placement at the proximal thoracic upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) in adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. This study aims to investigate radiographic and clinical outcomes of TPH placement at the UIV for ASD surgery.
Methods This is a retrospective cohort of 56 patients with ASD (age, 59 ± 13 years; followup, 44 ± 19 months) from Johns Hopkins Hospital, who underwent long posterior spinal fusion to the proximal thoracic spine (T2–5). Visual analogue scale (VAS) for back pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 36-item Short Form health survey scores, thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) angle, PJK incidence, pattern of PJK, grades of TPH dislodgement, revision surgery, and factors associated with high-grade TPH dislodgement were analyzed.
Results VAS for back pain and ODI values improved significantly from preoperatively to final follow-up. Mean change in PJK angle was 12° (range, 0.5°–43°). Twenty patients (36%) developed PJK, of whom 13 had compression fractures at 1 vertebra distal to the UIV (UIV–1). Final TPH position was stable in 42 patients (75%). In most patients (86%), TPH dislodgement did not progress after 6-month postoperative follow-up. Three patients (5.3%) underwent revision surgery to extend the fusion because of symptomatic PJK. Unstable TPH position was associated only with revision surgery and TK.
Conclusion TPH placement at the proximal thoracic UIV for long fusion showed favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes in terms of the incidence of PJK and mean PJK angle at mean 44-month follow-up. TPHs placed in the proximal thoracic UIV were in stable position in 75% of patients. Compression fracture at UIV–1 was the most common pattern of PJK. PJK angle progression was greater in revision cases and in patients with greater preoperative thoracic kyphosis.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Clinical and radiological outcomes of transverse process hooks versus pedicle screws at the upper instrumented vertebra in adult spinal deformity patients undergoing three-column osteotomy: A retrospective comparative study Mohsen Rostami, Sadegh Bagherzadeh, Navid Moghadam, Faramarz Roohollahi, Cesar Carballo Cuello, Jay Kumar, Mark Greenberg, Puya Alikhani Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery.2026; 261: 109263. CrossRef
Effects of paraspinal muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration on segmental kyphosis after conservative treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in postmenopausal women Inwook Seo, Minjoon Cho, Taehoon Kang, Sungtaek Chung, Jae Hyup Lee European Spine Journal.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Objective To compare the outcomes of S1 foraminal hooks and iliac screws regarding fusion rate at the lumbosacral junction and protective effects on S1 screws.
Methods From January 2017 to December 2019, consecutive patients who underwent long fusions (uppermost instrumented vertebra at or above L1) to the sacrum for adult spinal deformity were enrolled. Patients were divided into S1 foraminal hook group and iliac screw group. Radiographic parameters and the incidence of pseudarthrosis and instrument failure at the lumbosacral junction were compared between the groups.
Results Twenty-nine patients (male:female = 1:28) with a mean age of 73.6 ± 6.8 years were evaluated. Sixteen patients (55.2%) had S1 foraminal hook fixation and 13 patients (44.8%) had iliac screw fixation. Lumbar lordosis, sacral slope, and sagittal vertical axis did not differ between the groups preoperatively and postoperatively. The rate of L5/S1 pseudarthrosis was significantly higher in S1 foraminal hook group (5 of 16, 31.3%), compared to iliac screw group (0 of 13, 0%; p = 0.048). Instrument failure at the lumbosacral junction trended toward a higher rate in S1 foraminal hook group (6 of 16, 37.5%) than in iliac screw group (1 of 13, 7.7%), without statistical significance (p = 0.09). Proximal junctional kyphosis/failure occurred less often in S1 foraminal hook group (2 of 16, 12.5%) than in iliac screw group (3 of 13, 30.8%) without statistical significance (p = 0.36).
Conclusion Treatment with S1 foraminal hooks achieved equivalent satisfactory sagittal correction with proportioned alignment compared to that with iliac screws. However, S1 foraminal hooks did not provide enough structural support to the lumbosacral junction in long fusions to the sacrum.
Citations
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Trans-sacral interbody fixation in long fusions to the sacrum for adult spinal deformity: complications and fusion rates at minimum two years follow-up Honglei Yi, Hu Chen, Peirong Lian, Xinran Ji, Matthew E. Cunningham, Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, Han jo Kim, Thomas Ross, Venu M. Nemani, Hong Xia International Orthopaedics.2024; 48(1): 193. CrossRef
Distal Junctional Failure After Fusion Stopping at L5 in Patients With Adult Spinal Deformity: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Radiographic Criteria Sung Ho Do, Sungsoo Bae, Dae Jean Jo, Ho Yong Choi Neurospine.2024; 21(3): 856. CrossRef
Proximal junctional kyphosis: What we didn't know, what we think we know, and what we need to know Austin C. Kaidi, Justin S. Smith, Han Jo Kim Seminars in Spine Surgery.2023; 35(4): 101065. CrossRef
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