Distinct Mechanisms of Proximal Junctional Kyphosis and Their Clinical Implications

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: In patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, we sought to: (1) describe mechanisms of proximal junctional kyphosis/failure (PJK/F), and (2) compare time-to-diagnosis, proximal junctional angle (PJA), reoperation, and rate of neurological deficits between PJK/F mechanisms. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: PJK/F includes several different failure mechanisms. METHODS: ASD patients (2009-2021) with ≥5-level fusion, sagittal/coronal deformity, and two-year follow-up were included. Primary outcome was mechanism of PJK/F, defined as a PJA≥10° and ≥10° change from preoperative. PJK/F mechanisms were: screw pullout, UIV fracture, UIV+1 fracture, screw lucency, fracture dislocation, supradjacent disc degeneration with/without listhesis, and radiographic kyphosis only. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were performed. RESULTS: Among 238 patients, 113 (47.5%) developed PJK/F: screw pullout (7.1%), UIV fracture (15.0%), UIV+1 fracture (8.0%), screw lucency (12.4%), fracture dislocation (11.5%), supradjacent disc degeneration with/without listhesis (31.0%), and radiographic kyphosis only (15.0%). One mechanism was seen in 91 (80.5%) patients, and 2+ mechanisms in 22 (19.5%). Median time-to-PJK/F diagnosis was 5.3 (IQR: 1.4-17.7) months: screw pullout (8.3 m, PJA=19.9°), UIV fracture (3.8 m, 25.6°), UIV+1 fracture (11.8 m, 28.0°), screw lucency (12.8 m, 19.0°), fracture dislocation (1.6 m, 27.9°), disc degeneration (4.5 m, 25.6°), and radiographic kyphosis only (6.1 m, 19.5°) ( P =0.986, P