Anterior Column Realignment Through Open Pre-posterior Release-Anterior-Posterior Fusion Versus Hybrid Minimally Invasive-Anterior-Posterior Fusion for Dynamic Sagittal Imbalance of the Spine.

Study design: Retrospective comparative study.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes after anterior column realignment (ACR) through pre-posterior release-anterior-posterior surgery (PAP) and minimally invasive surgery -lateral lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-LLIF) using hybrid anterior-posterior surgery (AP).

Methods: A total of 91 patients who underwent ACR with long fusions from T10 vertebra to the sacropelvis with a follow-up period of at least 2 years after corrective surgery for adult spinal deformity were included and divided into two groups by surgical method: AP and PAP. AP was performed in 26 and PAP in 65 patients. Clinical outcomes and radiological parameters were investigated and compared. A further comparison was conducted after propensity score matching between the groups.

Results: The more increase of LL and decrease of PI-LL mismatch were observed in the PAP group than in the AP group postoperatively. After propensity score matching, total operation time and intraoperative bleeding were greater, and intensive care unit care and rod fracture were more frequent in the PAP group than in the AP group with statistical significance. Reoperation rate was higher in PAP (29.2%) than in AP (16.7%) without statistical significance.

Conclusions: PAP provides a more powerful correction for severe sagittal malalignment than AP procedures. AP results in less intraoperative bleeding, operation time, and postoperative complications. Therefore, this study does not suggest that one treatment is superior to the other.

Level of evidence: III.