e Ed E213 Imaging of degenerative scoliosis A

e. Ed. E-213 Imaging of degenerative scoliosis: A review of current literature S. Saipriya, J. Howard, C. J. Miranda, R. Siripurapu, A. Herwadkar Department of Neuroradiology, Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, England UK

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Definiton § Primary degenerative scoliosis is a deformity developing in a previously straight spine, caused by progressive degeneration of the spine in middle age with progressive disc and facet degeneration. § This leads to generalised spondylosis and may result in instability that leads to vertebral rotation, lateral listhesis or spondylolisthesis. § Scoliosis is defined as a lateral spinal curvature with a Cobb angle of >10°.

Purpose (1) § Degenerative scoliosis is a type of adult scoliosis and has different etiologies. § There is an increase in prevelance of degenerative scoliosis in several countries with aging populations. § A thorough radiological evaluation is imperative for successful surgical management of adults with scoliosis. § We aim to depict the various imaging modalities with their relative utilities and also provide an update on the current research on degenerative scoliosis. Aebi, M. "The adult scoliosis. " European Spine Journal 14. 10 (2005): 925 -948. Ortiz, Orlando. Imaging of the Postoperative Spine, An Issue of Neuroimaging Clinics. Pages 69 - 74 Vol. 24. No. 2. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2014.

Methods § We reviewed the imaging findings of patients treated with the intent of achieving spinal fusion presenting to our tertiary neurosciences and spinal centre over the past 7 years. § A literature review on assessing spinal fusion was carried out.

Background § Several classification systems exist, there is no established gold standard. § Adult scoliosis has been broadly divided into three major groups by Aebi M. et al. Type II Primary or ‘de novo’ scoliosis Idiopathic adolescent scoliosis with progression in adult life IIa : IIb: Type III without secondary degenerative change with secondary degenerative change Secondary adult curves- due to leg discrepancy, oblique pelvis, lumbosacral anomaly, neuromuscular or congenital trauma, iatrogenic or due to metabolic transitional scoliosis, disease. Grubb SA, Lipscomb HJ, Coonrad RW (1988) Degenerative adult onset scoliosis. Spine 13: 241 – 245 Grubb SA, Lipscomb HJ (1992) Diagnostic findings in painful adult scoliosis. Spine 17(5): 518 – 527

Risk factors for curve progression § Faster progression with curve greater than 30º. § More than 30% rotation of apical vertebra. § 6 mm or greater lateral listhesis § L 5 -S 1 disc degeneration § Osteoporosis

Background § Standard radiographs may provide us with clues regarding the primary or secondary nature of the curves. § Secondary degenerative scoliosis often tends to be expressed more strongly, less osteoporotic and longer than its primary counterpart. § Schwab et al presented a classification system based purely on the measurements of the endplate obliquity of L 3 in the frontal plane. Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 lordosis > 55°, L 3 obliquity < 15° lordosis 35 – 55°, L 3 obliquity 15 – 25° lordosis < 35°, L 3 obliquity > 25° Schwab, F, el-Fegoun, AB, Gamez, L, Goodman, H, Farcy, JP (2005) A lumbar classification of scoliosis in the adult patient: preliminary approach. Spine 30: pp. 1670 -1673

Background Primary degenerative adult scoliosis is most commonly seen in the lumbar spine and results from segmental degeneration. Asymmetric degeneration of the disc/ facet joints results in asymmetric loading of the spinal segment resulting in deformity. The presence of the deformity then triggers further asymmetric loading resulting in a vicious circle. Progressive degeneration and deformity often leads to central and foraminal stenosis. Asymme tric deformit y Asymmetric loading Aebi, M. "The adult scoliosis. " European Spine Journal 14. 10 (2005): 925 -948. Asymmetric n degeneratio

Clinical Manifestation § Back pain- most frequent clinical problem. § Can be either localised, radicular, or due to secondary muscular fatigue. § Claudication/ radicular pain § Neurological deficit § Increasing deformity § Once the curve reaches a certain extent, progression automatically follows. § Cosmesis- although not as significant as in adolescent scoliosis, with improvements in quality of life into older age, this is becoming more important. § Concomitant osteoporosis aggravates the clinical picture. Ellwitz, J, and Gupta M. "Adult Degenerative Scoliosis. " Spine Surgery Basics. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2014. 247 -258.

Diagnostic Work- up Standard Radiographs § Whole spine X Rays: Indispensable. § Frontal and lateral planes with the centre of the skull and pelvis included. § Spot views of the lumbar spine § Oblique radiographs to assess facet joints and neural foramina § Functional views including side bending, flexion and extension films. Aebi, M. "The adult scoliosis. " European Spine Journal 14. 10. 2005: 925 -948. Kim H, Kim HS, Moon ES, et al. Scoliosis imaging: What radiologists should know. Radio. Graphics 2010 30: 7, 1823 -1842

Standard radiographs • • Spinal curvature (Cobb angle) Asymmetric disc degeneration Lateral listhesis Rotation of vertebrae

Plain radiographs depicting measurement of the cobb angle. Maximal displacement of the apical vertebra is arrowed.

Standard Radiographs § Placement of the head over the pelvis results in less energy expenditure with movement, less stress in adjacent segments and correlates with less symptoms. § Sagittal balance is measured with a plumb line from the posterior aspect of the superior end plate of C 7 (other authors use T 3). § If the line passes through the posterior aspect of the S 1 endplate, the alignment is neutral. § Alternatively, some authors also describe a line from the odontoid passing through the femoral heads but that may not be feasible depending on the coverage of the radiograph. Ellwitz, J, and Gupta M. "Adult Degenerative Scoliosis. " Spine Surgery Basics. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2014. 247 -258.

Sagittal balance, C 7 -S 1 plumb line Negative balance Balanced Positive balance

Standard Radiographs § Coronal balance is assessed by constructing a line that bisects the sacrum and extends upwards to pass through the centre of the C 7 vertebral body and should normally bisect the head. Any deviation from this would be termed as right or left decompensation. § Other parameters that may be useful and have shown correlation with pain scores are L 3 or L 4 tilt angle, listhesis, thoracolumbar kyphosis and loss or lumbar lordosis. § Cobb angle, plumb line, pelvic tilt and level of listhesis did not show any correlation with pain scores. § CT may be useful in some cases to assess complex 3 dimentional curves. Ellwitz, J, and Gupta M. "Adult Degenerative Scoliosis. " Spine Surgery Basics. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2014. 247 -258. Schwab F, Smith V, Biserni M et al, Adult sco- liosis: a quantitative radiographic and clinical analysis. Spine 2002. 27(4): 387– 392

Coronal and sagittal plumb lines Vertical line from C 7 passes through mid S 1 Vertical line from C 7 Passes through mid S 1

Coronal imbalance Right over balanced Balanced Left over balanced

Plain films – side bending views Primary curve centered at L 4 Secondary curve at L 23 Primary curve is not corrected on bending. Secondary curve is corrected. Determines if curve is fixed or otherwise.

Progressive worsening of scoliosis 2009 2011 2014 Comparison with previous radiographs shows increasing curvature; increasing lateral listhesis of L 3 over L 4 and increasing spondylosis with progressive degeneration at L 2 -3 space

Role of CT Imaging (1) • • • Spinal curvature Asymmetric disc degeneration Lateral listhesis Tilt of vertebrae Vertebral body rotation Pelvic tilt

Role of CT imaging (2) • Osseous elements of degeneration • Osteophytic characterisation • Bone density • Pedicle size prior to surgery • Instrumentation positioning • Instrumentation failure

Role of CT imaging (3) CT imaging demonstrates Vacuum phenomenon Multilevel disc degeneration Rotation of vertebra Exit foraminal narrowing

Role of CT imaging (4) Facetal arthropathy Protruding facets narrow the lateral recesses, compress the traversing roots and contribute to canal stenosis.

CT 3 D volume rendering Allows for demonstration of Rotation of vertebral bodies Asymmetric disc degeneration Pelvic tilt Exit foraminal narrowing

Magnetic Resonance Imaging § Ideal for assessing neural compromise and disc degeneration. § If contraindicated, CT myelogram is a good alternative, and simultanously produces images for 3 D reformatting.

Asymmetric disc degeneration at level of scoliosis

Many facets of degeneration Thickening of ligamentum flavum Facetal arthropathy Interspinous bursal thickening Lateral recess stenosis

Spinal stenosis MR imaging depicting • Narrowing of lower lumbar central canal • Degenerative disc bulges • Facetal arthropathy • Ligamentum flavum thickening (arrow)

Coronal MR imaging Demonstrates lateral listhesis Exit foraminal narrowing on concave side (arrowed) Stretched nerves on convex side

Treatment § Must be tailored to individual patient. § Medication, facet joint injections, epidural blocks, root blocks, exercises and immobilization are non surgical options with limited success. § Surgical treatment options aim to achieve neural decompression, correction and stabilisation of the deformity and functional restoration. Ellwitz, J, and Gupta M. "Adult Degenerative Scoliosis. " Spine Surgery Basics. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2014. 247 -258. Gupta M (2003) Degenerative scoliosis, options for sur- gical management. Orthop Clin North Am 34: 269– 279

Transpedicular instrumentation with disc cages Pretreatment Disc cages (arrows)

Correct positioning of screws Pedicular screws should not breach the medial margin before traversing the vertebral body; should be less than 2 mm beyond the anterior vertebral margin; without any lucency around the tip; and should be intact. On follow up, its position should be unaltered.

Lumbo-pelvic fixation This technically demanding procedure is performed in patients with L 5 S 1 mobility, mainly to relieve pain. Jones, Clifford B. , Debra L. Sietsema, and Martin F. Hoffmann. "Can lumbopelvic fixation salvage unstable complex sacral fractures? . " Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® 470. 8 (2012): 2132 -2141.

Fusion cages and bone graft to aid fusion § Arrows denote fusion cages § Speckled appearance of bone graft posteriorly

Fusion bony mass …indicates succesful fusion.

Examples of failure of surgery for degenerative scoliosis

Failure of fusion due to screw loosening No bone in disc space at L 4 -5 Lucency along the screws (loosening) Mild anterior listhesis

Failure due to fracture below the prosthesis citehtsorpire. P erutcarf tnemges gno. L noisuf tnemtaerter. P

Conclusion § Adult degenerative scoliosis is an increasingly challenging day to day radiological demand § Imaging requires careful correlation between plain films, CT and MR scans § Plain films are useful in ascertaining balance, progress and as a followup post treatment § CT imaging is useful in demonstrating bony details, surgical planning and in ascertaining prosthesis § MR imaging will determine the effects on the neural structures and for reviewing post treatment complications

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