Alignment considerations in degenerative spinal conditions: A narrative review

Abstract

Background: With an aging population, degenerative spinal diseases are contributing significantly to the healthcare's burden. Spinal alignment in the context of adult spinal deformities has become an important domain of research. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of the latest considerations in spinal alignment within the context of degenerative spinal conditions, discussed current strategies for morphological assessment and finally identified potential areas for future research. Results: This review reported that degenerative spinal conditions lead to a complex disruption of spinal alignment. It also highlighted the importance of spino-pelvic alignment with specific attention to compensatory mechanisms that occur in response to spinal deformities. Emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence and epigenetics are showing promises in terms of patient care. Conclusions: Understanding spinal alignment in degenerative conditions underscores the importance of dynamic and individualized assessments. Future research should integrate emerging technologies along with traditional clinical practices in order to optimize patient outcomes and minimize complications for patients suffering from degenerative spinal diseases.

Keywords

• Spinal alignment
• Degenerative spine
• Degenerative spondylolisthesis
• Cervical degenerative myelopathy
• Compensatory mechanisms
• Aging spine