Scheuermann’s disease surgery. Major problems: non-systematic literature review (part II)

Abstract

Objective. To analyze literature data on the frequency of junctional kyphosis in surgery for Scheuermann’s disease, its relationship with spinopelvic parameters, risk factors and prevention of its development. Material and Methods. A search for sources in Scopus and Web of Science databases revealed 62 articles published from 1975 to 2021 and containing the required information. Of these, 56 publications meet the inclusion criteria. Results. The selected 56 articles contain data on 2,110 patients. In total, 247 (11.8 %) cases of proximal junctional kyphosis were diagnosed, including 6 (0.3 %) cases of proximal junctional failure. The total number of distal junctional kyphosis cases was 124 (5.9 %). Forty-five reoperations were performed. Many potential risk factors have been identified in publications, but there is no consensus on any of them. As a result, there is no a well-founded common position on the prevention of junctional kyphosis development. Spinopelvic parameters in Scheuermann’s disease are significantly less than those in the general population and do not tend to change after surgical correction of kyphosis. As for their relationship with the risk of development of proximal and distal junctional kyphosis, there is no consensus to date. Conclusion. This review is the largest in terms of coverage of literary sources on the problem of the development of junctional kyphosis in surgery for Scheuermann’s disease. The causes for the development of this complication remain unknown, hence there is the lack of gen- erally accepted methods of prevention. New studies with long postoperative follow-up are needed.

Keywords

• scheuermann’s disease
• surgical treatment
• proximal junctional kyphosis
• distal junctional kyphosis