Efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in patients with degenerative scoliosis. Methods Databases were systematically searched up to June 2024. The authors applied Review Manager 5.4 to manage the data and perform the analysis. Res...

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Main Authors: Bin Zheng, Qiang Zhou, Xuanwen Liu, Zhe Qiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-05466-z
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author Bin Zheng
Qiang Zhou
Xuanwen Liu
Zhe Qiang
author_facet Bin Zheng
Qiang Zhou
Xuanwen Liu
Zhe Qiang
author_sort Bin Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in patients with degenerative scoliosis. Methods Databases were systematically searched up to June 2024. The authors applied Review Manager 5.4 to manage the data and perform the analysis. Results After the selection of 611 studies from electronic databases, 13 studies were eligible for inclusion. These 13 studies included 1261 patients: 534 patients underwent long fusion, and 727 underwent short fusion. At baseline, the Cobb angle, coronal imbalance, and sagittal imbalance were greater in the long fusion group. There was no difference in the VAS back, Cobb angle, ODI, hospital stay, revision surgery, adjacent segment degeneration, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, Cobb angle, lumbar lordosis, coronal balance, or sagittal balance at the final follow-up. The surgery time, complication rates, and amount of blood loss were greater in the long fusion group. Conclusions Long fusion leads to superior radiographic improvement, particularly in reducing the Cobb angle and reconstructing coronal and sagittal balance. The long fusion group was inferior in terms of increased surgical time, more blood loss, and higher postoperative complication rates. At the final follow-up, there was no difference in the clinical or radiographic outcomes between the long and short groups. For patients with a large coronal Cobb angle and significant coronal or sagittal imbalance, long fusion surgery should be performed. On the other hand, for patients whose milder deformities and clinical symptoms are the main concern, short fusion surgery is recommended.
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spelling doaj-art-65e4a7b66a8644cb96b7272dbb9fcdcd2025-01-26T12:43:20ZengBMCJournal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research1749-799X2025-01-0120111210.1186/s13018-025-05466-zEfficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysisBin Zheng0Qiang Zhou1Xuanwen Liu2Zhe Qiang3Spine Surgery, Peking University People’s HospitalDepartment of Orthopedics SurgeryDepartment of Orthopedics SurgeryDepartment of Orthopedics SurgeryAbstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in patients with degenerative scoliosis. Methods Databases were systematically searched up to June 2024. The authors applied Review Manager 5.4 to manage the data and perform the analysis. Results After the selection of 611 studies from electronic databases, 13 studies were eligible for inclusion. These 13 studies included 1261 patients: 534 patients underwent long fusion, and 727 underwent short fusion. At baseline, the Cobb angle, coronal imbalance, and sagittal imbalance were greater in the long fusion group. There was no difference in the VAS back, Cobb angle, ODI, hospital stay, revision surgery, adjacent segment degeneration, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, Cobb angle, lumbar lordosis, coronal balance, or sagittal balance at the final follow-up. The surgery time, complication rates, and amount of blood loss were greater in the long fusion group. Conclusions Long fusion leads to superior radiographic improvement, particularly in reducing the Cobb angle and reconstructing coronal and sagittal balance. The long fusion group was inferior in terms of increased surgical time, more blood loss, and higher postoperative complication rates. At the final follow-up, there was no difference in the clinical or radiographic outcomes between the long and short groups. For patients with a large coronal Cobb angle and significant coronal or sagittal imbalance, long fusion surgery should be performed. On the other hand, for patients whose milder deformities and clinical symptoms are the main concern, short fusion surgery is recommended.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-05466-zLong fusionShort fusionDegenerative scoliosis
spellingShingle Bin Zheng
Qiang Zhou
Xuanwen Liu
Zhe Qiang
Efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Long fusion
Short fusion
Degenerative scoliosis
title Efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort efficacy and safety of long fusion versus short fusion in degenerative scoliosis a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Long fusion
Short fusion
Degenerative scoliosis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-05466-z
work_keys_str_mv AT binzheng efficacyandsafetyoflongfusionversusshortfusionindegenerativescoliosisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT qiangzhou efficacyandsafetyoflongfusionversusshortfusionindegenerativescoliosisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT xuanwenliu efficacyandsafetyoflongfusionversusshortfusionindegenerativescoliosisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT zheqiang efficacyandsafetyoflongfusionversusshortfusionindegenerativescoliosisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis