Incidence and Risk Factors of Proximal Junctional Complications and Rod Fractures After Long-Segment Fusion Surgery With Anterior Column Realignment for Adult Spinal Deformity: A Minimum 2-Year Follow-Up

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence and risk factors of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), proximal junctional failure (PJF), and rod fractures in patients undergoing long-segment (≥4 levels) fusion surgery with anterior column realignment (ACR) for adult spinal deformity. METHODS: Patients aged ≥60 years with at least a 2-year follow-up were grouped based on PJK, PJF, and rod fracture occurrence. Patient, surgical, and radiographic factors were compared to identify risk factors for these complications. Independent risk factors were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 106 patients, the incidence rates of PJK, PJF, and rod fractures were 15.1%, 28.3%, and 17.9%, respectively. PJK was significantly associated with fewer fusion levels (odds ratio 95% CI, 0.30 0.13-0.69), a cranially directed uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV) screw angle (1.40 1.13-1.72), postoperative overcorrection of age-adjusted pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (LL) (7.22 1.13-45.93), and a large increase in thoracic kyphosis (1.09 1.01-1.17). PJF risks were associated with a cranial UIV screw orientation (1.23 1.09-1.39), overcorrection of age-adjusted pelvic incidence-LL (10.80 2.55-45.73), and a smaller change in sacral slope (0.87 0.80-0.94). For rod fractures, prominent factors included a greater number of fusion levels (1.70 1.17-2.46), a larger postoperative LL (1.07 1.01-1.15), a smaller postoperative thoracic kyphosis (0.92 0.86-0.98), and smaller changes in sacral slope (0.73 0.58-0.92) and pelvic tilt (0.72 0.56-0.91). CONCLUSION: The incidence and risk factors of PJK, PJF, and rod fractures were similar to those observed in previous studies on long-segment fusion surgery without ACR. The number of ACR levels was not a significant risk factor for PJK, PJF, or rod fractures. When performing deformity correction using ACR, surgeons should carefully consider the direction of the UIV screw and ensure that overcorrection is avoided.