The aim of the present study is to elucidate preoperative risk factors for inadequate correction of coronal imbalance and/or creation of new postoperative coronal imbalance (iatrogenic CIB) in patients who undergo surgery for Adult Spinal Deformity (ASD). A retrospective review of adults who underwent posterior spinal fusion (>5 levels) for ASD was performed. Patients were divided into groups according to the Nanjing classification: type A (CSVL < 3 cm), type B (CSVL > 3 cm and C7 plumb line shifted to major curve concavity), and type C (CSVL > 3 cm and C7 plumb line shifted to major curve convexity). They were also divided according to postoperative coronal balance in balanced (CB) vs. imbalanced (CIB) and according to iatrogenic coronal imbalance (iCIB). Preoperative, postoperative, and last follow-up radiographical parameters and intraoperative data were recorded. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for CIB. A total of 127 patients were included (85 type A, 30 type B, 12 type C). They all underwent long (average levels fused 13.3 ± 2.7) all-posterior fusion. Type C patients were more at risk of developing postoperative CIB (p = 0.04). Multivariate regression analysis indicated L5 tilt angle as a preoperative risk factor for CIB (p = 0.007) and indicated L5 tilt angle and age as a preoperative independent risk factors for iatrogenic CIB (p = 0.01 and p = 0.008). Patients with a preoperative trunk shift towards the convexity of the main curve (type C) are more prone to postoperative CIB and leveling the L4 and L5 vertebrae is the key to achieve coronal alignment preventing the "takeoff phenomenon".
Keywords: adult spinal deformity; iatrogenic coronal imbalance; inadequate correction; postoperative coronal imbalance; risk factors of coronal imbalance.