Objective
The goal of this study was to determine if patients with mild scoliosis and age-appropriate sagittal alignment have favorable outcomes following surgical correction.
Methods
Retrospective review of a prospective, multicenter adult spinal deformity database. Inclusion criteria: operative patients age ≥18 years, and preoperative pelvic tilt, mismatch between pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis (PI–LL), and C7 sagittal vertical axis all within established age-adjusted thresholds with minimum 2-year follow-up. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 36-item Short Form health survey (SF-36), Scoliosis Research Society-22R (SRS22R), back/leg pain Numerical Rating Scale and minimum clinically important difference (MCID)/substantial clinical benefit (SCB). Two-year and preoperative HRQoL radiographic data were compared. Patients with mild scoliosis (Mild Scoli, Max coronal Cobb 10°–30°) were compared to those with larger curves (Scoli).
Results
One hundred fifty-one patients included from 667 operative patients (82.8% women; average age, 56.4 ± 16.2 years). Forty-two patients (27.8%) included in Mild Scoli group. Mild Scoli group had significantly worse baseline leg pain, ODI, and physical composite scores (p < 0.02). Mean 2-year maximum coronal Cobb angle was significantly improved compared to baseline (p < 0.001). All 2-year HRQoL measures were significantly improved compared to (p < 0.001) except mental composite score, SRS activity and SRS mental for the Mild Scoli group (p > 0.05). From the mild Scoli group, 36%–74% met either MCID or SCB for the HRQoL measures. Sixty-four point three percent had minimum 1 complication, 28.6% had a major complication, 35.7% had reoperation.
Conclusion
Mild scoliosis patients with age-appropriate sagittal alignment benefit from surgical correction, decompression, and stabilization at 2 years postoperative despite having a high complication rate.

Objective
Extension of the posterior upper-most instrumented vertebra (UIV) into the upper thoracic (UT) spine allows for greater deformity correction and reduced incidence of proximal junction kyphosis (PJK) in adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients. However, it may be associated with chronic postoperative scapular pain (POSP). The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between UT UIV and persistent POSP, describe the pain, and assess its impact on patient disability.
Methods
ASD patients who underwent multilevel posterior fusion were retrospectively identified then administered a survey regarding scapular pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), by telephone. Univariate and multivariate analysis were utilized.
Results
A total of 74 ASD patients were included in the study: 37 patients with chronic POSP and 37 without scapular pain. The mean age was 70.5 years, and 63.9% were women. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics, including mechanical complications (PJK, pseudarthrosis, and rod fracture) or reoperation between groups. Patients with persistent POSP were more likely to have a UT than a lower thoracic UIV (p = 0.018). UT UIV was independently associated with chronic POSP on multivariate analysis (p = 0.022). ODI score was significantly higher in patients with scapular pain (p = 0.001). Chronic POSP (p = 0.001) and prior spine surgery (p = 0.037) were independently associated with ODI on multivariate analysis.
Conclusion
A UT UIV is independently associated with increased odds of chronic POSP, and this pain is associated with significant increases in patient disability. It is a significant clinical problem despite solid radiographic fusion and the absence of PJK.