Evaluating the Impact of Spinal Osteotomy on Surgical Outcomes of Thoracolumbar Deformity Correction

BACKGROUND: In cases of adult spinal deformity (ASD) with severe sagittal malalignment, the use of osteotomies may be necessary in addition to posterior fusion. However, few data exist describing the impact of osteotomies on complications and quality outcomes during ASD surgery. METHODS: We queried the MarketScan database to identify patients who underwent ASD surgery in 2007-2016. Patients were stratified according to whether or not an osteotomy was used in the index operation. Propensity score matching was used to mitigate intergroup differences between osteotomy and nonosteotomy groups. Patients <18 years old and patients with any prior history of trauma or tumor were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of 7423 patients who met the inclusion criteria of this study, 2700 (36.4%) received an osteotomy. After propensity score matching, baseline comorbidities and approach type were similar between cohorts. The overall 90-day complication rate was 43.2% in the nonosteotomy group and 52.8% in the osteotomy group (P < 0.0001). The osteotomy cohort also had significantly higher rates of revision surgeries through 2 years (21.1% vs. 18.0%, P < 0.05) following index surgery. Patients who received a 3-column osteotomy had the highest procedural payments, costing $155,885 through 90 days and $167,161 through 1 year following surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis confirms high costs and complication, readmission, and reoperation rates until 2 years after ASD surgery in general, which are even higher in cases where an osteotomy is required. Future research should explore strategies for optimizing patient outcomes following osteotomy.