Multi-Rod Constructs Can Prevent Rod Breakage and Pseudarthrosis at the Lumbosacral Junction in Adult Spinal Deformity

Study Design:Retrospective cohort study.Objective:To determine if patients fused with multi-rod constructs to the pelvis have a lower incidence of lumbosacral rod failure and pseudarthrosis than those fused with dual-rod constructs.Methods:We performed a retrospective review of consecutive adult spinal deformity patients who underwent long fusion to the pelvis. Inclusion criteria were >5 levels, primary fusion or revision for L5-S1 pseudarthrosis, and minimum 1-year follow-up. Revision patients with indications other than L5-S1 pseudarthrosis were excluded. One-year follow-up plain radiographs were reviewed for rod integrity, and computed tomography scan (CT) was obtained whenever rod breakage was observed. Dual-rod and multi-rod (3 or 4 rods) cohorts were statistically compared.Results:There were 31 patients with 15 in the dual-rod group and 16 in the multi-rod group, with average ages of 68 ± 9 and 63 ± 12 years, respectively. No patients in the multi-rod group experienced rod fracture, whereas 6 in the...