Turkish Neurosurgery 2023 , Vol 33 , Num 4
Association Between the Clivus Slope and Patient-Reported Japanese Orthopaedic Association (PRO-JOA) Scores in Patients with Basilar Invagination: A Retrospective Study
Liwei PENG1,Wei ZUO1,Chao CHENG1,Fan YANG2,Peng WANG1,Zilong MAO1,Jin?an ZHANG1,Weixin LI1
1Fourth Military Medical University, Tangdu Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Xi?an, China
2Fourth Military Medical University, Tangdu Hospital, Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Xi?an, China
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.35895-21.3 AIM: To determine a quantitative relationship between the postoperative clivus slope (CS) and the change in the Patient-Reported Japanese Orthopaedic Association (PRO-JOA) scores following reduction surgery of the basilar invagination (BI).

MATERIAL and METHODS: A single center retrospective study was conducted. Patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria at our hospital during the period from August 2015 to August 2020 were identified. The CS was introduced. Radiographic parameters including the CS were measured to assess realignment preoperatively and postoperatively. The PRO-JOA score was recorded to reveal the clinical outcome. The PRO-JOA score and the radiographic parameters that included the CS were compared between postoperative BI patients.

RESULTS: Ninety-four patients with BI were included in the study. The CS (0.96, 0.93?1.00) was inversely correlated with the PROJOA score. The CS was negatively associated with the ?PRO-JOA score in the crude model, while no significant associations in the fully adjusted model, although in the case of the latter, a slight trend was found (p for trend<< 0.05). In the non-linear model, the CS was negatively associated with the ?PRO-JOA score in patients diagnosed with BI, unless the CS exceeded 63.4°.

CONCLUSION: A reduction in the CS affects the postoperative PRO-JOA score of BI patients. This relationship can be employed as a quantitative reference in determining preoperative design with respect to the intraoperative correction needed to reduce craniovertebral junction deformity in BI. Keywords : Clivus slope, Basilar invagination, Craniovertebral junction, Sagittal parameter, Patient-Reported Japanese Orthopaedic Association score

Corresponding author : Weixin LI, tangdunaowai@163.com