# Association of Spinal Corrective Surgery With Abdominal Aorta Length in Patients With Adult Spinal Deformity

## TL;DR

Spinal corrective surgery in adult spinal deformity patients can increase abdominal aorta length, with changes linked to spinal alignment adjustments.

## Contribution

This study is the first to show a measurable and significant association between spinal correction and abdominal aorta elongation in ASD patients.

## Key findings

- Aortic length increased by 4.2 ± 4.9 mm post-surgery.
- A negative correlation was found between changes in thoracolumbar kyphosis and aortic length (R2 = 0.45, p = 0.012).
- Abdominal aorta elongation was up to 4.8% after spinal correction.

## Abstract

Introduction

This research aimed to explore the relationship between spinal characteristics and the length of the abdominal aorta in adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients who underwent corrective spinal surgery. We hypothesized that adjusting spinal alignment might affect the abdominal aorta's length.

Methods

This study included thirteen patients with ASD (average age: 63.0 ± 8.9 years; four males and nine females) who received spinal correction surgery. We measured both pre-operative and post-operative spinal parameters, including thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), and calculated their differences (Δ). The length of the aorta (AoL) was determined using an automated process that measures the central luminal line from the celiac artery's bifurcation to the inferior mesenteric artery. This measurement was made using contrast-enhanced computed tomography for three-dimensional aortic reconstruction. We compared the pre-operative and post-operative AoLs and their differences (Δ). The study examined the correlation between changes in spinal parameters and changes in AoL.

Results

Post-operatively, there was an increase in aortic length (ΔAoL: 4.2 ± 4.9 mm). There was a negative correlation between the change in TLK and the change in AoL (R2 = 0.45, p = 0.012, β = −0.21). No significant correlations were found with other spinal parameters.

Conclusions

The abdominal aorta can elongate by 4.8% after spinal corrective surgery in patients with ASD. The degree of elongation of the abdominal aorta is associated with spinal alignment correction.