Sarcopenia fails to impact radiological outcomes of patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis undergoing posterior surgical procedures: Study

Degenerative lumbar scoliosis is a progressive condition often seen in older adults, marked by chronic back pain, spinal deformity, and functional decline. Sarcopenia, characterized by age-related muscle loss, is common in this population and thought to negatively influence recovery after spine surgery. To investigate this, researchers retrospectively analyzed patients with DLS who underwent posterior corrective procedures, comparing those diagnosed with sarcopenia against non-sarcopenia patients. The findings revealed no significant difference in key radiological parameters, including coronal Cobb angle correction, sagittal balance, or fusion rates between the two groups. These results suggest that sarcopenia does not compromise the technical or anatomical success of posterior scoliosis surgery. However, functional outcomes did differ. Patients without sarcopenia reported significantly better postoperative ODI scores, indicating superior functional improvement and quality of life compared with their sarcopenic counterparts. Despite achieving similar structural correction, sarcopenic patients appeared to derive fewer functional benefits, likely due to reduced muscle strength and physical resilience. Importantly, complication rates and perioperative parameters were comparable between groups, reinforcing that sarcopenia does not substantially increase surgical risk. The authors emphasized the role of sarcopenia as a prognostic factor for functional recovery rather than radiological success. The study concludes that preoperative evaluation of sarcopenia is valuable for predicting postoperative functional outcomes in patients undergoing DLS surgery. Targeted interventions such as nutritional support and resistance training may improve recovery trajectories, enabling sarcopenic patients to gain more from surgical correction.