AO Spine Adult Spinal Deformity Patient Profile: A Paradigm Shift in Comprehensive Patient Evaluation in Order to Optimize Treatment and Improve Patient Care

Study Design: Modified Delphi study. Objective: Adult spinal deformity (ASD) is an increasingly recognized condition, comprising a spectrum of pathologies considerably impacting patients' health and functional status. Patients present with a combination of pain, disability, comorbidities and radiological deformity. The study aims to propose a systematic approach of gathering information on the factors that drive decision-making by developing a patient profile. Methods: The present study comprises of 3 parts. Part 1: Development of prototype of patient profile: The data from the Core Outcome Study on SCOlisis (COSSCO) by Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) was categorized into a conceptual framework. Part 2: Modified Delphi study: Items reaching >70% agreement were included in a 4 round iterative process with 51 panellists across the globe. Part 3: Pilot testing-feasibility: Content validity and usability were evaluated quantitatively. Results: The profile consisted of 4 domains. 1. General health with demographics and comorbidities, 2.Spine-specific health with spine related health and neurological status, 3. Imaging with radiographic and MRI parameters and 4. Deformity type. Each domain consisted of 1 or 2 components with various factors and their measuring instruments. Profile was found to have an excellent content validity (1-CVIr 0.78-1.00; Ave-CVI 0.92) appropriateness, relevance and usefulness. Conclusions: The present study, is first to provide a universally applicable multimodal ASD patient profile to methodically describe patients. Physicians are encouraged to assess ASD patients holistically using this profile and not just based on radiographic findings.

Automated summary

The study aims to collect information on the factors that drive decision-making by developing a patient profile for adult spinal deformity (ASD). The patient profile was found to have excellent content validity and usability. Physicians are encouraged to assess ASD patients holistically using this profile, rather than relying solely on radiographic findings.