Incorporation of Frailty Based Realignment Target Goals for Cervical Deformity Surgery in Adults Can Mitigate Mechanical Complications and Improve Perioperative Course

Introduction: Given the high prevalence of frailty in adults undergoing cervical deformity surgery, along with frailty drastically influencing recovery patterns, adjusting realignment goals can be of value. Assessing patient-specific goals accounting for frailty, can lead to greater rates of optimal outcomes in ACD.

Methods: Operative adult cervical deformity(ACD) patients with 2 year data were included. Patients were stratified based on mFI into not frail (NF), frail (F), and severely frail(SF). Good outcomes(GO) was defined as meeting all of the following parameters at 1Y and 2Y: 1) no DJF or mechanical failure, 2) met Virk et al. good clinical outcome, NRS-Neck ≤5 or improvement ≥2 points from BL], 3) improved in ≥1 Ames modifier, and 4) no worsening in Ames modifier. Those that did not meet GO were labeled as PO.

Results: 343 ACD patients were included (Age 59.6±12.4yrs, 46% females, BMI 28.6 ± 7.1kg/m2). Baseline HRQL’s were NDI 53±19, ODI 48.5±17.5, mJOA 13.2 ± 2.6, Swal 89 ± 22, EQ-5D 0.54 ± 0.21. Baseline frailty categories: 21% Not Frail, 67% Frail, and 12% severely frail. Baseline deformity: TS-CL 36.1°±18.9°, cSVA 4.5±2.4cm, C2-C7 -3.9°±22.2°, C2-T3 -15.5°±21.5°, C2S 35.8°±19.9°, MGS 2.3°±13.0°, with greater deformity present as frailty increased. BL mJOA was worse in SF and in PO cohort (both p< 0.001). Overall by 2Y, 18.9% developed DJK, 7.9% DJF, 6.3% mechanical failure, 11% neurological complications, and 16.5% underwent reoperation, with 43.3% meeting GO. 52% of NF met GO, 42% of F, and 33% of SF. Analysis adjusted for baseline deformity depicted GO had increased correction relative to GO in NF and F, however for SF decreased correction in TS-CL (-6° vs -17°, p=0.047), C2S (-9° vs -19°, p=0.108), and MGS (-12° vs -13.5°, p=0.2).

Conclusion : Consideration of chronological age, in addition to physiological age, may be beneficial in the management of operative goals to maximize clinical outcomes while minimizing junctional failure. This combination enables the spine surgeon to fortify a surgical plan for even the most challenging patients undergoing adult cervical deformity corrective surgery.