{"title":"Answer to the Letter to the Editor of W. Yue, et al. concerning \"A multimodal machine learning model integrating clinical and MRI data for predicting neurological outcomes following surgical treatment for cervical spinal cord injury\" by Shimizu T, et al. (Eur Spine J [2025]: doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-08873-2).","authors":"Tomoaki Shimizu","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-09021-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-09021-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Letter to the Editor concerning \"A multimodal machine learning model integrating clinical and MRI data for predicting neurological outcomes following surgical treatment for cervical spinal cord injury\" by Shimizu T, et al. (Eur Spine J [2025]: doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-08873-2).","authors":"Hinpetch Daungsupawong, Viroj Wiwanitkit","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-09018-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-09018-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144215393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zihe Feng, Honghao Yang, Zhangfu Li, Xinuo Zhang, Yong Hai
{"title":"Development and validation of machine learning models for distal instrumentation-related problems in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis based on preoperative CT and MRI.","authors":"Zihe Feng, Honghao Yang, Zhangfu Li, Xinuo Zhang, Yong Hai","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-08906-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-08906-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This investigation proposes a machine learning framework leveraging preoperative MRI and CT imaging data to predict postoperative complications related to distal instrumentation (DIP) in degenerative lumbar scoliosis patients undergoing long-segment fusion procedures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 136 patients, categorizing based on the development of DIP. Preoperative MRI and CT scans provided muscle function and bone density data, including the relative gross cross-sectional area and relative functional cross-sectional area of the multifidus, erector spinae, paraspinal extensor, psoas major muscles, the gross muscle fat index and functional muscle fat index, Hounsfield unit values of the lumbosacral region and the lower instrumented vertebra. Predictive factors for DIP were selected through stepwise LASSO regression. The filtered and all factors were incorporated into six machine learning algorithms twice, namely k-nearest neighbors, decision tree, support vector machine, random forest, multilayer perceptron (MLP), and Naïve Bayes, with tenfold cross-validation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among patients, 16.9% developed DIP, with the multifidus' functional cross-sectional area and lumbosacral region's Hounsfield unit value as significant predictors. The MLP model exhibited superior performance when all predictive factors were input, with an average AUC of 0.98 and recall rate of 0.90.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We compared various machine learning algorithms and constructed, trained, and validated predictive models based on muscle function and bone density-related variables obtained from preoperative CT and MRI, which could identify patients with high risk of DIP after long-segment spinal fusion surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144208120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vincent Raymaekers, Gert Roosen, Eric Put, Salah-Eddine Achahbar, Sacha Meeuws, Maarten Wissels, Sven Bamps, Steven Vanvolsem, Dirk De Ridder, Tomas Menovsky, Mark Plazier
{"title":"Correction: Prolonged opioid use after single-level lumbar spinal fusion surgery in a Belgian population: a multicentric observational study.","authors":"Vincent Raymaekers, Gert Roosen, Eric Put, Salah-Eddine Achahbar, Sacha Meeuws, Maarten Wissels, Sven Bamps, Steven Vanvolsem, Dirk De Ridder, Tomas Menovsky, Mark Plazier","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-08891-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-08891-0","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144208119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Song Wang, Hao Liu, Honglin Liao, Ping He, Hao Yang, Xiang Zhang, Jun He, Hongsheng Yang, Bo Qu
{"title":"Preoperative assessment of spinal bone quality using Hounsfield unit values and vertebral bone quality scores in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective propensity-matched study.","authors":"Song Wang, Hao Liu, Honglin Liao, Ping He, Hao Yang, Xiang Zhang, Jun He, Hongsheng Yang, Bo Qu","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-09003-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-09003-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of Hounsfield unit (HU) values and vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores for assessing bone quality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), specifically in the spine, and to compare these methods with the traditional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) T-score.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent DXA, lumbar CT, and MRI from January 2018 to December 2023. HU values were measured on CT, while VBQ scores, Pfirrmann grading (PFG), and endplate erosion grading (EEG) were assessed on MRI. Propensity score matching compared T-scores, HU values, and VBQ scores between RA and non-RA patients. In the RA group, multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of L1-L4 T-scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The RA group had higher VBQ scores, PFG, and EEG, but lower HU values. In the control group, HU values, VBQ, and T-scores exhibited comparable diagnostic performance for osteoporosis. However, in the RA group, the diagnostic accuracy of the L1-L4 T-score was significantly lower than that of HU values and VBQ. Correlation analysis showed a weaker relationship between L1-L4 T-scores and HU or VBQ scores in the RA group. Multiple linear regression analysis identified PFG (β = 0.328, P < 0.001) and EEG (β = 0.276, P < 0.001) as independent predictors of L1-L4 T-scores in the RA group, whereas HU values and VBQ were not influenced by these factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The lumbar T-score may not accurately reflect spinal bone quality in patients with RA. HU values and VBQ can serve as effective complementary tools for assessing bone quality alongside DXA, as they are unaffected by spinal degeneration or EE.</p>","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sagittal spinopelvic alignment in healthy Turkish adults: establishing normative radiographic reference values.","authors":"Cemil Aktan, Zafer Ayhan, Akın Koşar, Ferhat Güler","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-08975-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-08975-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sagittal alignment of the spine and pelvis is critical for maintaining posture, balance, and mobility. Spinopelvic parameters-including pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), and thoracic kyphosis (TK)-are essential for the evaluation and management of spinal deformities. Despite extensive global research, normative data for the Turkish population are lacking. This study aimed to establish spinopelvic reference values in healthy Turkish adults and to explore population-specific alignment characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective case-control study included 400 healthy adults (202 females, 198 males; mean age 40.2 ± 14.7 years) selected from 1,200 scoliosis radiographs obtained between 2016 and 2024. Standardized standing lateral radiographs were used to measure PI, PT, SS, LL, and TK. Measurements were independently performed by two orthopedic surgeons using the PACS system, and interobserver reliability was assessed via intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Interobserver agreement was excellent for all parameters (ICC 0.947-0.978). The mean values were: PI 48.8° ± 8.9, PT 11.0° ± 6.2, SS 38.2° ± 6.4, LL 58.5° ± 8.2, and TK 37.3° ± 9.7. PI values were comparable to literature norms (p = 0.48), whereas PT and SS were significantly lower, and LL and TK significantly higher, compared to international reference values (p < 0.001 for all). Gender analysis revealed a moderate negative correlation with PI (r = - 0.526), while correlations between age and spinopelvic parameters were weak and clinically insignificant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The Turkish adult population exhibits a distinct sagittal alignment profile, with lower PT and SS and higher LL and TK compared to established international norms. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating regional normative data into clinical assessments and surgical planning to optimize patient-specific outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"MRI Radiomics based on paraspinal muscle for prediction postoperative outcomes in lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.","authors":"Yongze Yu, Wen Xu, Xin Li, Xuejiao Zeng, Zehua Su, Qing Wang, Shun Li, Chunzheng Liu, Zetian Wang, Shanjin Wang, Lijun Liao, Jinyuan Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-08959-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-08959-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Object: </strong>This study aims to develop an paraspinal muscle-based radiomics model using a machine learning approach and assess its utility in predicting postoperative outcomes among patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included a total of 155 patients diagnosed with LDS who underwent single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery between January 2021 and October 2023. The patients were divided into train and test cohorts in a ratio of 8:2.Radiomics features were extracted from axial T2-weighted lumbar MRI, and seven machine learning models were developed after selecting the most relevant radiomic features using T-test, Pearson correlation, and Lasso. A combined model was then created by integrating both clinical and radiomics features. The performance of the models was evaluated through ROC, sensitivity, and specificity, while their clinical utility was assessed using AUC and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The LR model demonstrated robust predictive performance compared to the other machine learning models evaluated in the study. The combined model, integrating both clinical and radiomic features, exhibited an AUC of 0.822 (95% CI, 0.761-0.883) in the training cohorts and 0.826 (95% CI, 0.766-0.886) in the test cohorts, indicating substantial predictive capability. Moreover, the combined model showed superior clinical benefit and increased classification accuracy when compared to the radiomics model alone.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that the combined model holds promise for accurately predicting postoperative outcomes in patients with LDS and could be valuable in guiding treatment strategies and assisting clinicians in making informed clinical decisions for LDS patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Reut Kassif Lerner, Amiad Levi Baltzan, Nissim Ackshota, Evyatar Hubara, Tal Sadeh, Marina Rubinstein, Gidi Paret, Itai M Pessach
{"title":"Factors associated with immediate post-operative complications in pediatric patients in intensive care after spinal deformity surgical repair.","authors":"Reut Kassif Lerner, Amiad Levi Baltzan, Nissim Ackshota, Evyatar Hubara, Tal Sadeh, Marina Rubinstein, Gidi Paret, Itai M Pessach","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-08974-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-08974-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Surgical repair is a widely used and effective treatment for pediatric scoliosis, significantly improving patients' quality of life. However, despite the overall safety of these procedures, postoperative complications can occur, presenting notable challenges. To ensure optimal monitoring and management, pediatric scoliosis patients are frequently admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) during the immediate postoperative period. This study aimed to identify patient characteristics associated with immediate postoperative complications within the first 48 h following spinal deformity surgery. Furthermore, it sought to evaluate the types, prevalence, and severity of these complications, as well as the risk factors contributing to their development.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort study was conducted, encompassing all children aged 8 to 18 years who underwent spinal deformity surgery and were admitted to the largest tertiary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Israel between 2010 and 2021. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted from electronic medical records and systematically analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with immediate postoperative complications occurring within the first 48 h after surgery.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 81 pediatric patients who underwent spinal deformity surgery. Of these, 41 (50%) experienced complications within the first 48 h post-surgery. Patients with comorbidities demonstrated a higher prevalence of complications (RR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.12-2.91). A significantly increased risk of hemodynamic complications was observed in patients with serum lactate levels above 2 mmol/L upon PICU admission (RR = 7.3; 95% CI = 2.45-21.79) and in those with a significant decrease in hemoglobin levels (RR = 4.56; 95% CI = 1.76-11.83). Additionally, patients with CRP levels above 20 mg/dL or albumin levels below 3 mg/dL upon admission had significantly higher relative risks of general complications (RR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.12-2.63 and RR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.06-2.32, respectively). A predictive model for significant complications in pediatric patients following spinal deformity surgery was developed based on these factors. The model was able to predict possible immediate complications with an AUC of 0.74 and with scores above 4 points demonstrated 100% specificity and 100% positive predictive value in identifying complications at the time of PICU admission. Using this model, we effectively stratified patients into low-risk and high-risk groups for postoperative complications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We identified several factors associated with an increased risk of complications within 48 h following pediatric spinal deformity surgery. A simple and easy to use predictive model developed using these factors demonstrated good performance allowing stratification of patients upon admission to th","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Letter to the editor concerning \"pulmonary function does not improve after 10 years of posterior spinal fusion in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis\" by Burgos, Jesús et al. (Eur spine J [2025]: doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-08831-y).","authors":"Ziyu Guo, Yuchen Li, Nan Ning","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-08986-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-08986-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oxford spinal sarcoma service: excellent oncological outcomes with a centralised multidisciplinary approach to primary spinal tumour care.","authors":"Jonathan Jiong Hao Tan, Euan Stirling, Radek Kaiser, Gerard Mawhinney, Dominique Rothenfluh, Yiong Huak Chan, Shilin Wang, Ruxandra Mihai, Stana Bojanic, Jeremy Reynolds","doi":"10.1007/s00586-025-08893-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-08893-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The Oxford Spinal Sarcoma Service is a designated primary spinal tumour referral centre in the United Kingdom serving over ten million residents. We report the outcomes of this centralised approach to primary spinal tumour care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a retrospective review of surgically treated primary spinal tumour patients during 2008-2022. Patients were classified based on tumour resection margins - Enneking Appropriate (EA) or Enneking Inappropriate (EI). Outcomes studied include local recurrence and overall survival.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>119 patients were included. 86/119(72%) cases involved the mobile spine; 33/119(28%), the sacrum. 96/119(81%) patients were virgin cases. EA margins were achieved in 68%(81/119) of cases. There were 38/119(32%) EI patients; 23/38(61%) were non-virgin cases which precluded EA resection. EA resection was achieved 90%(81/90) of the time when attempted. In EA patients with mobile spine tumours, local recurrence rate was 2%(1/51), vs. 18%(5/28) in EA patients with sacral tumours, 20%(7/35) in EI patients with mobile spine tumours, and 80%(4/5) in EI patients with sacral tumours. Mean local recurrence-free survival was 5.2(range 1-13.5) years; local recurrence rate, 18.5%(22/119). Mortality rate was 21.0%(25/119); mean overall survival was 5.63(range 1-13.5) years post-surgery. On multivariate analysis, EI margins and post-operative systemic treatment were significant predictors for local recurrence; presence of metastases and pre-operative systemic therapy, significant predictors for mortality.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Centralisation of primary spinal tumour care has led to excellent oncological results comparable to most large spinal tumour centres. In mobile spine primary tumours where EA margins were achieved, our local recurrence rate (2.0%) is one of the lowest reported in literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":12323,"journal":{"name":"European Spine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}