T1 slope minus cervical lordosis (TS-CL), the cervical answer to PI-LL, defines cervical sagittal deformity in patients undergoing thoracolumbar osteotomy

Abstract

Background: Cervical kyphosis and C2-C7 plumb line (CPL) are established descriptors of cervical sagittal deformity (CSD). Reciprocal changes in these parameters have been demonstrated in thoracolumbar deformity correction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of CSD, using T1 slope minus cervical lordosis (TS-CL) to define CSD and to correlate TS-CL and a novel global sagittal parameter, cervical-thoracic pelvic angle (CTPA), with CPL. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective analysis of patients with thoracolumbar deformity undergoing threecolumn osteotomy was performed. Preoperative and postoperative cervical parameters were investigated. Linear regression for postoperative values resulted in a CPL of 4 cm corresponding to a TS-CL threshold of 178. Patients were classified based on postoperative TS-CL into uncompensated (TS-CL > 17°) or compensated cohorts (TS-CL, 178); the two were compared using an unpaired t test. Logistic regression modeling was used to determine predictors of postoperative CSD. Results: A total of 223 patients with thoracolumbar deformity (mean age, 57.56 years) were identified. CTPA correlated with CPL (preoperative r = .85, postoperative r = .69). TS-CL correlated with CTPA (preoperative r = .52, postoperative r = .37) and CPL (preoperative r = .52; postoperative r = .37). CSD had greater preoperative CPL (P < .001) and CTPA (P 17° (P = .007), longer fusion (P = .033), and baseline CTPA (P = .029). Conclusions: TS-CL and CTPA correlated significantly with established sagittal balance measures. Whereas reciprocal change in cervical and thoracolumbar alignment was demonstrated in the compensated cohort, the uncompensated population had progression of their cervical deformities after three-column osteotomy. Clinical Relevance: The balance between TS-CL mirrors the relationship between pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis in defining deformities of their respective spinal regions.