Aims. To provide normative data that can assess spinal-related disability and the prevalence of back or leg pain among adults with no spinal conditions in the UK using validated questionnaires. Methods. A total of 1,000 participants with equal sex distribution were included and categorized in five age groups: 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and 60 to 69 years. Individuals with spinal pathologies were excluded. Participants completed the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22r), visual analogue scale (VAS) for back/leg pain, and the EuroQol five-dimension index (EQ-5D/VAS) questionnaires, and disclosed their age, sex, and occupation. They were also categorized in five professional groups: doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, office workers, and manual workers. Results. The mean age of all participants was 43.8 years (20 to 69). There was no difference in the SRS-22r, EQ-5D, or VAS scores among male and female participants (p > 0.05). There was incremental decrease in SRS-22r total scores as the age increased. The mean EQ-5D index score (0.84) ranged little across the age groups (0.72 to 0.91) but reduced gradually with increasing age. There was difference between the SRS-22r total score (4.51), the individual domain scores, and the EQ-5D score (index: 0.94 and VAS: 89) for the doctors’ group compared to all other occupational categories (p < 0.001). Doctors had a younger mean age of participants, which may explain their improved spinal health. There was no difference in the total or sub-domain SRS-22r and EQ-5D scores between the other four occupational groups. Conclusion. This study provides the first normative data for the SRS-22r, EQ-5D, and VAS for back/leg pain questionnaires among adults in the UK. We recorded an excellent correlation between the three assessment tools with individuals who reported less back and leg pain having better quality of life and greater function. The participants’ age, rather than their sex or profession, appears to be the major determinant for spinal health and quality of life. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(2):130–134

Aims. With recent progress in cancer treatment, the number of advanced-age patients with spinal metastases has been increasing. It is important to clarify the influence of advanced age on outcomes following surgery for spinal metastases, especially with a focus on subjective health state values. Methods. We prospectively analyzed 101 patients with spinal metastases who underwent palliative surgery from 2013 to 2016. These patients were divided into two groups based on age (< 70 years and ≥ 70 years). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), Barthel index (BI), and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D) score were assessed at study enrolment and at one, three, and six months after surgery. The survival times and complications were also collected. Results. In total, 65 patients were aged < 70 years (mean 59.6 years; 32 to 69) and 36 patients were aged ≥ 70 years (mean 75.9 years; 70 to 90). In both groups, the PS improved from PS3 to PS1 by spine surgery, the mean BI improved from < 60 to > 80 points, and the mean EQ-5D score improved from 0.0 to > 0.7 points. However, no significant differences were found in the improvement rates and values of the PS, BI, and EQ-5D score at any time points between the two groups. The PS, BI, and EQ-5D score improved throughout the follow-up period in approximately 90% of patients in each group. However, the improved PS, BI, and EQ-5D scores subsequently deteriorated in some patients, and the redeterioration rate of the EQ-5D was significantly higher in patients aged ≥ 70 than < 70 years (p = 0.027). Conclusion. Palliative surgery for spinal metastases improved the PS, activities of daily living, and quality of life, regardless of age. However, clinicians should be aware of the higher risk of redeterioration of the quality of life in advanced-age patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(12):1709–1716

Purpose and Background. Both overall spine shape and the size and shape of individual vertebrae undergo rapid growth and development during early childhood. Motor development milestones such as age of walking influence spine development, with delayed ambulation linked with spinal conditions including spondylolysis. However, it is unclear whether associations between motor development and spine morphology persist into older age. Therefore, these associations were examined using data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, a large nationally-representative British cohort, followed up since birth in 1946. Methods and Results. Statistical shape modelling was used to characterise spinal shape (L5-T10) and identify modes of variation in shape (SM) from dual energy x-ray absorptiometry images of the spine taken at age 60–64 years (N=1327 individuals; 51.8% female). Associations between walking age in months (reported by mothers at 2 years) and SMs were examined with adjustment for sex, birthweight, socioeconomic position, height, lean mass and fat mass. Later onset of independent walking was weakly associated with greater lordosis (SM1; P=0.05) and more uniform antero-posterior vertebral size along the spine (SM6, P=0.07). Later walking age was also associated with smaller relative anterior-posterior vertebral dimensions (SM3) among women whereas the opposite was found for men (P <0.01 for sex interaction). Conclusions. Spinal morphology in early old age was associated with the age that individuals began walking independently in childhood, potentially due to altered mechanical loading. This suggests that motor development may have a persisting effect on clinically-relevant features of spine morphology throughout life. Conflict of interest: None. Funded by the UK Medical Research Council (Grant MR/L010399/1) which supported FRS, SGM and AVP

Introduction. In patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), anomalous extra-spinal left-right skeletal length asymmetries in upper limbs, periapical ribs, and ilia beg the question as to whether these bilateral asymmetries are connected in some way with pathogenesis. The upper arm and iliac length asymmetries correlate significantly with adjacent spinal curve severity respectively in thoracic and lower (thoracolumbar and lumbar) spine. In lower limbs, skeletal length asymmetries and proximo-distal disproportion are unrelated to spinal curve severity. Overall, these observations raise questions about mechanisms that determine skeletal bilateral symmetry of vertebrates in health and disorder, and whether such mechanisms are involved in the cause of this disease. We investigated upper arm length (UAL) asymmetries in two groups of right-handed girls aged 11–18 years, with right thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (RT-AIS, n=98) from preoperative and screening referrals (mean Cobb angle 45°) and healthy controls (n=240). Methods. Right and left UAL were measured with a Harpenden anthropometer of the Holtain equipment, by one of four observers (RGB, AAC, RKP, FJP). UAL asymmetry was calculated as UAL difference, right minus left, in mm. Repeatability of the measurements was assessed by technical error of the measurement (TEM) and coefficient of reliability (R). Results. In girls with RT-AIS, UAL asymmetry was greater than it was in healthy girls (mean 5·9 mm vs 2·5 mm, ANOVA p<0·001, correcting for age), regressed negatively with age (p<0·001, r= –0·374), and correlated significantly with Cobb angle (r=0·342, p=0·001) and apical vertebral rotation (Perdriolle, r=0·291, p=0·004). In healthy girls, UAL asymmetry was unrelated to age. Plotted against years after estimated menarcheal age, right UAL overgrowth reduced significantly for girls with RT-AIS (r= –0·312, p=0·006, n=76) but not for healthy girls (r=0·000, p=0·985, n=121), which was a significant finding (p=0·052, ANOVA). Conclusions. The abnormal overgrowth of right upper arm length may be secondary, or pathogenetically associated with the RT-AIS trunk deformity. The negative regression of UAL asymmetry may result from (1) older girls having less residual growth and/or (2) a transient, or resolving, asymmetry process common to arm and trunk. We hypothesise that the pathogenetic process of RT-AIS may include two components: a transient bilateral asymmetry process and growth velocity, both of which affect trunk and arm growth. In the spine, these rarely lead to scoliosis resolution because biomechanical, postural, melatonin-signalling, and other factors sustain and aggravate the curve. Four pathomechanisms may induce the asymmetry process in trunk and arms involving (1) neuromuscular function, (2) motor cortex, (3) sympathetic nervous system, and (4) intrinsic time-tallies in growth plates, some of which suggest therapeutic possibilities

There is evidence that various anatomical structures have altered morphology with ageing, and anecdotal evidence of changing lumbar spinous process (LSP) morphology with age. This study aims to clarify the influence of age on LSP morphology, and on lumbar spine alignment. 200 CT scans of the abdomen were reformatted with bone windows allowing precise measurement of LSP dimensions and lumbar lordosis. Observers were blinded to patient demographics. Inter-observer reliability was confirmed. The smallest LSP is at L5. The male LSP is on average 2-3mm higher and 1mm wider than the female LSP. LSP height increases significantly with age at every level in the lumbar spine (P<10. -5. at L2). The LSPs increase in height by 2-5mm between 20-85 years of age (P<10. -6. ), which was as much as 31% at L5 (P<10. -8. ). Width increases proportionally more, by 3-4mm or greater than 50% at each lumbar level (P<10. -11. ). Lumbar lordosis decreases in relation to increasing LSP height (P<10. -4. ) but is independent of increasing LSP width (P=0.2). The height and width of the spinous processes increases with age. Increases in spinous process height are related to a loss of lumbar lordosis and may contribute to sagittal plane imbalance

Purpose. To investigate associations between sagittal thoracolumbar spine shape with sex and measures of adiposity throughout adulthood. Methods. Thoracolumbar spine shape was characterised using statistical shape modelling on lateral dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry images, recorded for vertebral fracture analysis, of the spine from 1529 participants of the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, acquired at age 60–64 years. Associations between spine shape modes (SM) and 1) sex, 2) contemporaneous measures of overall and central adiposity (indicated by body mass index and waist circumference, respectively), 3) changes in total and central adiposity during earlier stages of adulthood and age at onset of overweight, were investigated. Results. Four of the first eight spine modes (SM) describing lumbar spine shape differed by sex; on average, women had more lordotic spines than men with relatively smaller but caudally increasing anterior-posterior (a-p) vertebral diameters. Greater BMI and waist circumference and earlier onset of overweight were associated with uneven (or snaking) spinal curvatures (SM2) and larger a-p vertebral diameters (SM3). Central adiposity was also associated with larger caudal disc heights (SM4) in women, especially increases between 36–43 years. Conclusions. Sagittal spine shapes differed by sex and associations with overall and central adiposity also differed. Overweight and greater central adiposity earlier in adulthood were particularly important, and were associated with a straighter but more unevenly curved spine with larger vertebrae and caudal discs heights, possibly explained by a chronic effect of increased mechanical loading on the spine. Conflicts of interest: None. Funding received from MRC

Purpose of study. The Royal College of Radiology (RCR) provides guideline criteria to order lumbar spine X-rays for back pain. An audit was undertaken in our hospital to see compliance with this guideline. Methods. 200 lumbar spine radiology requests received in the hospital radiology department from General Practitioners over a 12 month period were identified. These 200 requests and their corresponding radiology reports were retrospectively analyzed. Results. Out of the 200 patients 80 were male and 120 were female. 1 patient was < 18 years, 75 patients were between 18 and 55 years, 52 patients were between 55 and 70 and 72 patients were > 70 years of age. Only 125 patients satisfied the RCR criteria for requiring a Lumbar Spine X-ray. 104 of these 125 patients met the criteria only because of age (> 55). The remaining 21 had other criteria like history of malignancy, osteoporosis or trauma that required imaging. Of the 200 X-rays the only significant pathology that was identified from the report was osteoporotic fractures in 35 patients. The most commonest diagnostic report was spondylosis which was seen in 92 patients. Among the 75 patients between the age of 18 and 55 only 2 fulfilled the criteria for requiring a lumbar spine X-ray. Hence 73 (36.5%) X-rays were outside the criteria. Among the 52 patients between the ages of 55 and 70 only 6 had a criteria other than age. Conclusion. This limited study demonstrates the following two possibilities. More stricter adherence to guidelines in patients aged 18 to 55. In this study 73 (36.5%) X-rays could have been avoided by this method. We believe that there is a case for the college to increase the age related criteria from 55 to 70 to be at par with American guidelines. If this method was used an additional 46 (23%) X-rays could have been avoided

Background and purpose. Sleep disturbance is frequently reported by people with chronic low back pain (CLBP >12 weeks), but there is limited knowledge of their sleep quality compared to healthy people. While disturbed sleep influences patients' mood, quality of life and recovery, few studies have comprehensively investigated sleep in CLBP. This study investigated differences in sleep profiles of people with CLBP, compared to age- and gender matched controls over seven consecutive nights. Methods. Thirty-two consenting subjects (n=16 with CLBP, n=16 matched controls), aged 24-65 years (43.8% male) underwent an interview regarding sleep influencing variables (e.g. mattress firmness, caffeine consumption), completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Diary, SF36-v2, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and CLBP measures (i.e. Oswestry Disability Index and Numerical Pain Scales), recorded seven consecutive nights of sleep in their home using actigraphy, and completed a Devices Utility Questionnaire. Results. Compared to controls, people with CLBP had significantly disturbed sleep on self-report measures (PSQI mean (SD) 10.9 (4.2); ISI mean 13.7 (7.6); Sleep Diary; p<0.001), but no significant differences on objective actigraphy (p>0.05). Actigraphy was found to be a user friendly sleep measure for use in the home environment (84.6%, n=11 CLBP; 73.3%, n=11 control). Conclusions. Self-rated sleep using a valid instrument should be routinely measured in LBP research and clinical practice. Further investigation of the relationship between patients' perception of their sleep quality and its objective measurement is warranted before actigraphy could be recommended as an objective outcome measure for the evaluation of sleep in this population

Purpose

To compare information on heredity among patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

Aims. Traumatic central cord syndrome (CCS) typically follows a hyperextension injury and results in motor impairment affecting the upper limbs more than the lower, with occasional sensory impairment and urinary retention. Current evidence on mortality and long-term outcomes is limited. The primary aim of this study was to assess the five-year mortality of CCS, and to determine any difference in mortality between management groups or age. Methods. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with a traumatic CCS between January 2012 and December 2017 in Wales were identified. Patient demographics and data about injury, management, and outcome were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to assess mortality and between-group differences. Results. A total of 65 patients were identified (66.2% male (n = 43), mean age 63.9 years (SD 15.9)). At a minimum of five years’ follow-up, 32.3% of CCS patients (n = 21) had died, of whom six (9.2%) had died within 31 days of their injury. Overall, 69.2% of patients (n = 45) had been managed conservatively. There was no significant difference in age between conservatively and surgically managed patients (p = 0.062). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant difference in mortality between patients managed conservatively and those managed surgically (p = 0.819). However, there was a significant difference in mortality between the different age groups (< 50 years vs 50 to 70 years vs > 70 years; p = 0.001). At five years’ follow-up, 55.6% of the patient group aged > 70 years at time of injury had died (n = 15). Respiratory failure was the most common cause of death (n = 9; 42.9%). Conclusion. Almost one-third of patients with a traumatic CCS in Wales had died within five years of their injury. The type of management did not significantly affect mortality but their age at the time of injury did. Further work to assess the long-term functional outcomes of surviving patients is needed to generate more reliable prognostic information. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(8):920–927

Aims. The escalating demand for medical resources to address spinal diseases as society ages is an issue that requires careful evaluation. However, few studies have examined trends in spinal surgery, especially unscheduled hospitalizations or surgeries performed after hours, through large databases. Our study aimed to determine national trends in the number of spine surgeries in Japan. We also aimed to identify trends in after-hours surgeries and unscheduled hospitalizations and their impact on complications and costs. Methods. We retrospectively investigated data extracted from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a representative inpatient database in Japan. The data from April 2010 to March 2020 were used for this study. We included all patients who had undergone any combination of laminectomy, laminoplasty, discectomy, and/or spinal arthrodesis. Results. This investigation included 739,474 spinal surgeries and 739,215 hospitalizations in Japan. There was an average annual increase of 4.6% in the number of spinal surgeries. Scheduled hospitalizations increased by 3.7% per year while unscheduled hospitalizations increased by 11.8% per year. In-hours surgeries increased by 4.5% per year while after-hours surgeries increased by 9.9% per year. Complication rates and costs increased for both after-hours surgery and unscheduled hospitalizations, in comparison to their respective counterparts of in-hours surgery and scheduled hospitalizations. Conclusion. This study provides important insights for those interested in improving spine care in an ageing society. The swift surge in after-hours spinal surgeries and unscheduled hospitalizations highlights that the medical needs of an increasing number of patients due to an ageing society are outpacing the capacity of existing medical resources. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(8):662–670

Aims. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and characteristics of instrumentation failure (IF) after total en bloc spondylectomy (TES), and to analyze risk factors for IF. Methods. The medical records from 136 patients (65 male, 71 female) with a mean age of 52.7 years (14 to 80) who underwent TES were retrospectively reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 101 months (36 to 232). Analyzed factors included incidence of IF, age, sex, BMI, history of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, tumour histology (primary or metastasis; benign or malignant), surgical approach (posterior or combined), tumour location (thoracic or lumbar; junctional or non-junctional), number of resected vertebrae (single or multilevel), anterior resection line (disc-to-disc or intravertebra), type of bone graft (autograft or frozen autograft), cage subsidence (CS), and local alignment (LA). A survival analysis of the instrumentation was performed, and relationships between IF and other factors were investigated using the Cox regression model. Results. A total of 44 patients (32.4%) developed IF at a median of 31 months (interquartile range 23 to 74) following TES. Most IFs were rod fractures preceded by a mean CS of 6.1 mm (2 to 18) and LA kyphotic enhancement of 10.8° (-1 to 36). IF-free survival rates were 75.8% at five years and 56.9% at ten years. The interval from TES to IF peaked at two to three years postoperatively and continued to occur over a period of time thereafter; the early IF-developing group had greater CS at one month postoperatively (CS1M) and more lumbar TES. CS1M ≥ 3 mm and sole use of frozen autografts were identified as independent risk factors for IF. Conclusion. IF is a common complication following TES. We have demonstrated that robust spinal reconstruction preventing CS, and high-quality bone grafting are necessary for successful reconstruction. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(2):172–179

Aims. Implant-related postoperative spondylodiscitis (IPOS) is a severe complication in spine surgery and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. With growing knowledge in the field of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), equivalent investigations towards the management of implant-related infections of the spine are indispensable. To our knowledge, this study provides the largest description of cases of IPOS to date. Methods. Patients treated for IPOS from January 2006 to December 2020 were included. Patient demographics, parameters upon admission and discharge, radiological imaging, and microbiological results were retrieved from medical records. CT and MRI were analyzed for epidural, paravertebral, and intervertebral abscess formation, vertebral destruction, and endplate involvement. Pathogens were identified by CT-guided or intraoperative biopsy, intraoperative tissue sampling, or implant sonication. Results. A total of 32 cases of IPOS with a mean patient age of 68.7 years (37.6 to 84.1) were included. Diabetes, age > 60 years, and history of infection were identified as risk factors. Patient presentation upon admission included a mean body temperature of 36.7°C (36.1 to 38.0), back pain at rest (mean visual analogue scale (VAS) mean 5/10) and when mobile (mean VAS 6/10), as well as elevated levels of CRP (mean 76.8 mg/l (0.4 to 202.9)) and white blood cell count (mean 9.2 units/nl (2.6 to 32.8)). Pathogens were identified by CT-guided or conventional biopsy, intraoperative tissue sampling, or sonication, and Gram-positive cocci presented as the most common among them. Antibiotic therapy was established in all cases with pathogen-specific treatment in 23 (71.9%) subjects. Overall 27 (84.4%) patients received treatment by debridement, decompression, and fusion of the affected segment. Conclusion. Cases of IPOS are rare and share similarities with spontaneous spondylodiscitis. While procedures such as CT-guided biopsy and sonication are valuable tools in the diagnosis of IPOS, MRI and intraoperative tissue sampling remain the gold standard. Research on known principles of PJI such as implant retention versus implant exchange need to be expanded to the field of spine surgery. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(11):832–838

Aims. Postoperative complication rates remain relatively high after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. The extent to which modifiable patient-related factors influence complication rates in patients with ASD has not been effectively evaluated. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the association between modifiable patient-related factors and complications after corrective surgery for ASD. Methods. ASD patients with two-year data were included. Complications were categorized as follows: any complication, major, medical, surgical, major mechanical, major radiological, and reoperation. Modifiable risk factors included smoking, obesity, osteoporosis, alcohol use, depression, psychiatric diagnosis, and hypertension. Patients were stratified by the degree of baseline deformity (low degree of deformity (LowDef)/high degree of deformity (HighDef): below or above 20°) and age (Older/Younger: above or below 65 years). Complication rates were compared for modifiable risk factors in each age/deformity group, using multivariable logistic regression analysis to adjust for confounders. Results. A total of 480 ASD patients met the inclusion criteria. By two years, complication rates were 72% ≥ one complication, 28% major, 21% medical, 27% surgical, 11% major radiological, 8% major mechanical, and 22% required reoperation. Younger LowDef patients with osteoporosis were more likely to suffer either a major mechanical (odds ratio (OR) 5.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1 to 36.9); p = 0.048) or radiological complication (OR 7.0 (95% CI 1.9 to 25.9); p = 0.003). Younger HighDef patients were much more likely to develop complications if obese, especially major mechanical complications (OR 2.8 (95% CI 1.1 to 8.6); p = 0.044). Older HighDef patients developed more complications when diagnosed with depression, including major radiological complications (OR 3.5 (95% CI 1.1 to 10.6); p = 0.033). Overall, a diagnosis of depression proved to be a risk factor for the development of major radiological complications (OR 2.4 (95% CI 1.3 to 4.5); p = 0.005). Conclusion. Certain modifiable patient-related factors, especially osteoporosis, obesity, and mental health status, are associated with an increased risk of complications after surgery for spinal deformity. Surgeons should look for these conditions when assessing a patient for surgery, and optimize them to the fullest extent possible before proceeding to surgical correction so as to minimize the prospect of postoperative morbidity. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(11):1249–1255

We present a large single surgeon case series evaluation of a new growth guidance technique for the treatment of progressive early onset scoliosis (EOS). A traditional Luque trolley construct uses wires to hold growth guidance rods together. We describe a new technique that uses domino end to side connectors in place of the wires with the aim of providing a stronger construct to better limit curve progression, while allowing longitudinal growth. We did a thorough retrospective review of patient records and radiological imaging. Sequential measurements of Cobb angle and length of rods were recorded, as well as any further surgical procedures and associated complications. This enabled us to quantify the ability of a technique to limit curve progression and simultaneously allow growth of the construct. In total, 28 patients with EOS (20 idiopathic, four syndromic, and four neuromuscular) have been treated with this technique, 25 of whom have a minimum follow-up of 2 years and 13 have a minimum follow-up of 5 years. The average correction of the preoperative Cobb angle was 48.9%. At the 2-year follow up, the average loss of this initial correction was 15 degrees, rising to only 20 degrees at a minimum of 5 years (including four patients with a follow-up of 8 years or more). The growth of the constructs was limited. The average growth at 2 years was 3.7 mm, rising to 19 mm at the 5-year follow-up. Patients who underwent surgery with this technique before the age of 8 years seemed to do better. This group had a revision rate of only 18% at an average time of 7 years after the index procedure, and the average growth was 22 mm. However, the group that had index surgery after the age of 8 years had a 64% revision rate at an average of 3.2 years after surgery and an average growth of only 11.6 mm. Overall, in the cases series, there were four hardware failures (14%) and one deep infection (3.5%), and only ten patients (36%) had one extra surgery after the index procedure. Only two of the 13 patients who are at a follow-up of 5 years or more have had revision. This modified Luque trolley technique has a good capacity for initial curve correction and for limiting further curve progression, with limited longitudinal growth before 2 years and improved growth thereafter. This technique might not be so useful after the age of 8 years because of poor growth and a higher early revision rate. We have also demonstrated a low cost technique with a low hardware failure rate that saves many future surgeries for the patient compared with other techniques used in the treatment of EOS

Background. Lateral lumbar spine statistical shape models (SSM) have been used previously to describe associations with osteoarthritis and back pain. However, associations with factors such as osteoporosis, menopause and parity have not been explored. Methods and Results. A 143-point SSM, describing L1 to the top of L5, was applied to lateral spine iDXA scans from UK Biobank. Associations with self-reported osteoporosis, menopause, parity and back pain and the first 10 modes of variation were examined using adjusted binary logistic regression or linear regression (adjusted for age, height, weight and total spine BMD). We report odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for each standard deviation change in mode. Complete data were available for 2494 women. Mean age was 61.5 (± 7.4) years. 1369 women reported going through menopause, 96 women self-reported osteoporosis and 339 women reported chronic back pain. 80% of women reported at least 1 live birth. Lumbar spine shape was not associated with back pain in this cohort. Two modes were associated with menopause (modes 1 & 2), 1 mode with parity (mode 1) and 2 modes with osteoporosis (modes 3 & 5). Mode 1 (43.6% total variation), describing lumbar curvature was positively associated with both menopause [OR 1.15 95% CI 1.00–1.33, p=0.05] and parity [OR 1.058 95% CI 1.03–1.0, p=0.01]. Mode 3, describing decreased vertebral height was positively associated with osteoporosis [OR 1.40 95% CI 1.14–1.73, p=0.001]. Conclusion. Menopause and parity were associated with a curvier lumbar spine and osteoporosis with decreased vertebral height. Shape was not associated with back pain. No conflicts of interest.  . Sources of funding. Wellcome Trust collaborative award ref 209233

Background. FORECAST is a prospective longitudinal cohort study exploring mechanism-based prognostic factors for pain persistence in sciatica. Here, we share an update on this largest deeply-phenotyped primary care sciatica cohort. Methods/results. Our cohort includes 180 people with sciatica (score >4 on Stynes’ Sum Score), aged 18–85, within 3 months of symptom onset. Psychosocial factors, self-reported sensory profiling, clinical examination, quantitative sensory testing (QST), biological samples (blood and skin samples), and Magnetic Resonance Neurography of lumbar nerve roots were collected at baseline. Pain persistence was determined at three and twelve months with the Sciatica Bothersomeness Index (SBI) and a numeric pain rating scale (NRS) as primary outcomes. Recruitment nears completion, with 160 participants enrolled to date. 127 and 96 participants have completed 3 and 12 months follow-up respectively. Overall, 56% of our cohort are female, with a mean age (SD) of 54.14yrs (16.57). Ethnicity data approximates local populations. SBI at baseline was (median [IQR]) 13[10-17], and interim longitudinal data shows stepwise improvement at 3 and 12 months. Baseline ‘average’ pain intensity was 5.56 (2.15) for leg pain, and 4.14(2.82) for low back pain (LBP). Overall, pain scores decreased at 3 and 12 months, with greater reductions in leg pain than LBP at 12 months. However, around 55–80% and 40–65% of people reported persistent pain at 3 and 12 months respectively. Conclusion. Leg pain severity was moderate and higher than LBP at baseline. All primary outcome measures demonstrate improvement over time, however 40–65% of patients report persistent pain at 12 months. Conflicts of interest. LR: Paid facilitation of post-graduate courses internationally. SK, MT, FP, KM, WS, CP, CR, SC: No conflicts of interest. GC: Editor in Chief of Health Psychology Review. Director of board of directors, MentalCHealth Care setting NoordWestVlaanderen. JF: Copyright holder of ODI (Oswestry Disability Index). Served on a data monitoring committee for a clinical trial of 2 different surgical approaches to cervical disc herniation (FORVAD). Member of HTA Prioritisation Committee B: Inside hospital Care from 2015-February 2019. Member of HTA Interventional Procedures Panel from 2010–2015. Trustee and board member of 3 spine related charities – Back to Back; British Scoliosis Research Foundation and BackCare. Expert instructed by both claimant and defendant solicitors in negligence and person injury cases. GB: Paid consultancy (RNA-seq) with Ivy Farm and Coding.bio. ABS: Paid post-graduate lecturing internationally. Co-chair NeupSig sciatica working group (unpaid). Sources of funding. This project is funded by UKRI and Versus Arthritis as part of the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF) Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (APDP), a co-funded initiative by UKRI (MRC, BBSRC, ESRC), Versus Arthritis, the Medical Research Foundation and Eli Lilly and Company Ltd (Grant MR/W027003/1). Additional funding has been received from the back to back charity to expand longitudinal components of the study. LR has received support with PhD fees from the CSP charitable trust. ABS is supported by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Career Development Fellowship. (222101/Z/20/Z). WS is partly funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London. FP is funded by a Dorothy Hodgkin Career Development Fellowship in Chemistry in association with Somerville College. GB is supported by the Wellcome Trust (223149/Z/21/Z) and Diabetes UK (19/0005984). GC and KRM are partly funded by UKRI and Versus Arthritis as part of the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform (APDP) PAINSTORM (MR/W002388/1). The UKRI and Versus Arhthritis (APDP) are the major funders of FORECAST. All other funders provided either some people support, or funded projects with legacy data that we reuse

Aims. This study aimed, through bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiment validation, to identify the key extracellular proteins of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Methods. The gene expression profile of GSE23130 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Extracellular protein-differentially expressed genes (EP-DEGs) were screened by protein annotation databases, and we used Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) to analyze the functions and pathways of EP-DEGs. STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and identify hub EP-DEGs. NetworkAnalyst was used to analyze transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate hub EP-DEGs. A search of the Drug Signatures Database (DSigDB) for hub EP-DEGs revealed multiple drug molecules and drug-target interactions. Results. A total of 56 EP-DEGs were identified in the differential expression analysis. EP-DEGs were enriched in the extracellular structure organization, ageing, collagen-activated signalling pathway, PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, and AGE-RAGE signalling pathway. PPI network analysis showed that the top ten hub EP-DEGs are closely related to IDD. Correlation analysis also demonstrated a significant correlation between the ten hub EP-DEGs (p＜0.05), which were selected to construct TF–gene interaction and TF–miRNA coregulatory networks. In addition, ten candidate drugs were screened for the treatment of IDD. Conclusion. The findings clarify the roles of extracellular proteins in IDD and highlight their potential as promising novel therapeutic targets. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(9):522–535

Less invasive single-rod fusion technique may be indicated in the management of NMS to minimise operative time, blood loss and wound-related complications. This retrospective 12-year cohort study (2008–2020) aims to evaluate and compare the outcomes of this technique to the current standard dual rod technique to determine their safety and efficacy. 28 patients in the single rod group (Mean age = 16.4 [SD ±4.0]) and 30 in the double rod group (Mean age = 16.3 [SD±3.5]). Indications included a minimum 2 year follow period, detailed information on the type of implant and a complete pre- and post-operative imaging and medical records. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, and surgical characteristics were collected. Outcomes assessed included the immediate post-op and final follow up angles and general complications. All outcome analysis was performed using a regression approach. Angles at final follow-up: lumbar (Difference ratio (DR)= 2.60 [95% CI 0.37 – 18.4], p=0.25), thoracic (DR= 1.08 [95% CI 0.19 – 6.28], p=0.92), thoracolumbar (major curve angle) (DR 1.35 [95% CI 0.60 – 3.06], p=0.46) and kyphosis (DR = 0.97 [0.66, 1.42] p=0.86). There was no statistically significant difference, between the two groups, for any of the above angle outcomes as well as for length of surgery, blood loss and complication outcomes. Both single and double rod instrumentation achieves satisfactory and safe deformity correction which is maintained at final follow up. A larger scale study is warranted to further assess these techniques while also conducting a cost-benefit analysis between them

Aims. To determine the major risk factors for unplanned reoperations (UROs) following corrective surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) and their interactions, using machine learning-based prediction algorithms and game theory. Methods. Patients who underwent surgery for ASD, with a minimum of two-year follow-up, were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 210 patients were included and randomly allocated into training (70% of the sample size) and test (the remaining 30%) sets to develop the machine learning algorithm. Risk factors were included in the analysis, along with clinical characteristics and parameters acquired through diagnostic radiology. Results. Overall, 152 patients without and 58 with a history of surgical revision following surgery for ASD were observed; the mean age was 68.9 years (SD 8.7) and 66.9 years (SD 6.6), respectively. On implementing a random forest model, the classification of URO events resulted in a balanced accuracy of 86.8%. Among machine learning-extracted risk factors, URO, proximal junction failure (PJF), and postoperative distance from the posterosuperior corner of C7 and the vertical axis from the centroid of C2 (SVA) were significant upon Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Conclusion. The major risk factors for URO following surgery for ASD, i.e. postoperative SVA and PJF, and their interactions were identified using a machine learning algorithm and game theory. Clinical benefits will depend on patient risk profiles. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(4):245–255