title: Sagittal plane deformity in the adult patient.
abstract: Recent studies have demonstrated that sagittal balance is the most important and reliable radiographic predictor of clinical health status in the adult with a spinal deformity. Affected persons typically present with intractable pain, early fatigue, and a perception of being off-balance. Nonsurgical management with nonsteroidal and analgesic medications as well as physical therapy plays a limited role. Surgical correction is the primary method of alleviating symptoms. The surgical approach depends largely on the amount of correction required to restore overall balance. Options include posterior-only or combined anterior-posterior surgery. The decision-making process often includes posterior-based osteotomies, such as the Smith-Petersen or pedicle subtraction, or vertebral column resection. Regardless of approach or osteotomy technique, spinal fusion with restored sagittal balance is the goal of any reconstructive procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL,USA.
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandoff
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Casden
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuflik
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Neuwirth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae