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Failure of nonoperative care in adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis: incidence, timing, and risk factors for conversion from nonoperative to operative treatment

Clohisy JCF, Smith JS, Kelly MP, Yanik EL, Baldus CR, Bess S, Shaffrey CI, Kim HJ et al.

Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 2023

135 participants

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis (ASLS) study is a prospective multicenter trial with randomized and observational cohorts comparing operative and nonoperative treatment for ASLS. The objective of the present study was to perform a post hoc analysis of the ASLS trial to examine factors related to failure of nonoperative treatment in ASLS.

METHODS: Patients from the ASLS trial who initially received at least 6 months of nonoperative treatment were followed for up to 8 years after trial enrollment. Baseline patient-reported outcome measures (Scoliosis Research Society-22 [SRS-22] questionnaire and Oswestry Disability Index), radiographic data, and other clinical characteristics were compared between patients who did and did not convert to operative treatment during follow-up. The incidence of operative treatment was calculated and independent predictors of operative treatment were identified using multivariate regression.

RESULTS: Of 135 nonoperative patients, 42 (31%) crossed over to operative treatment after 6 months and 93 (69%) received only nonoperative treatment. In the observational cohort, 23 (22%) of 106 nonoperative patients crossed over to surgery. In the randomized cohort, 19 (66%) of 29 patients randomized to nonoperative treatment crossed over to surgery. The most impactful factors associated with crossover from nonoperative to operative treatment were enrollment in the randomized cohort and baseline SRS-22 subscore < 3.0 at the 2-year follow-up,…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 135 participants or records.

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