Aspects of vertebral column resection in patients with rigid kyphotic and kyphoscoliotic deformities of different genesis of the thoracolumbar spine: multicenter retrospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND: Vertebral column resection (VCR) as a type of spinal osteotomy is characterized by maximum possibilities of three-dimensional correction of various etiologies: congenital, post-tuberculous, iatrogenic (after other interventions on the spine), degenerative, and vertebral spondyloptosis caused by Kümmel’s disease, and primary, and metastatic tumor lesions of the spine. Nowadays, the use of single-level VCR is far beyond its initial purpose.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to compare features of VCR for rigid deformities of various etiologies and management of erythrocyte blood products in the perioperative period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective observational cohort study analyzed data from 53 adult (aged ≥18 years) patients with kyphotic and kyphoscoliotic deformities of the thoracic and lumbar spine, distributed into four comparison groups according to the deformity genesis, namely, impaired spinal development, traumatic genesis, degenerative or idiopathic, and neoplasms of the vertebral bodies. The characteristics of VCR in these patients were compared.

RESULTS: The surgery duration was longer in VCR for spinal neoplasms (p <0.05) than for high-energy burst compression fractures of vertebral bodies and scoliotic deformities (grade IV). On average, this group also had the most cranial osteotomy level among the study groups. VCR for idiopathic scoliotic deformities is characterized by a larger intraoperative blood loss volume than other nosologies, and the differences were statistically significant. In male patients of this group, the hemoglobin level on day 1 after surgery was statistically significantly lower than in those who underwent VCR for compression fractures of the vertebral bodies or impaired vertebral development. During resection of the vertebral column for burst compression fractures of the vertebral bodies, the fixation length was less (p <0.05), with a similar intervention for developmental anomalies, deformities of postoperative genesis, and grade IV idiopathic scoliosis. VCR for grade IV idiopathic scoliosis requires a larger (p <0.05) volume of the reinfused autologous blood than for intervention for acute traumatic pathologies (burst compression fractures of the vertebral bodies).

CONCLUSION: The versatility of clinical tasks for which resection of the spinal column can be performed using the VCR technique also determines the significant heterogeneity of the patients who undergo such treatment. Knowledge of the interventions in various nosologies is very useful in vertebrological practice.