AO Spine Knowledge Forum Deformity

A global clinical research group transforming spinal deformity care through impactful research

How the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Deformity improves patient care

AO Spine Knowledge Forum (KF) Deformity aims to improve the care for patients with a spinal deformity by generating and disseminating meaningful and impactful clinical evidence.

They do this by engaging leading clinicians, researchers, and spine centers from around the world to perform evidence-based research and by disseminating the research findings and newfound knowledge through publications and presentations.

Practical tools for clinicians treating patients with spinal deformities

These selected clinical tools and articles developed by the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Deformity will help clinicians in planning appropriate treatments, assessing patient suitability, training next generation surgeons, and providing the best evidence to support decision-making, ultimately enhancing clinical practice and outcomes for spine deformity patients.

Classification Systems

AO ASD Patient Profile

The AO Adult Spine Deformity Patient Profile is a classification tool to assist clinicians systematically consider all important factors so they can provide the best care for adult spine deformity patients.

AO Spine Knowledge Forum Deformity's award winning Scoli-RISK-1 study group at work

Seminal Study Results

Scoli-RISK-1

This prospective multicenter observational study established the gold standard for the rate of neurologic complications in patients undergoing high-risk adult deformity surgery and identified key risk factors of poor surgical outcomes.

Clinical Practice Recommendations

Adult Spinal Deformity

Articles combining top evidence and expert opinions offer clinicians evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for adult spinal deformity patients, including Spinopelvic Fixation—What are the Key Items to Understand Performance?


Educational offerings and resources for spine professionals interested in spinal deformities

AO Spine offers gold-standard courses and resources in spinal deformities for spine surgeons at different stages of their career. The AO’s publishing and knowledge sharing platforms will further help boost their impact and improve the care of patients with spinal deformities.

Ongoing research projects

  • Biomechanical Approach to Predict Mechanical Complications in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery

    Principal investigator:

    Christopher Nielsen


    Co-Principal investigator:

    Stephen J. Lewis


    Goal:

    To understand whether the incidence of mechanical complications can be predicted using the immediate postoperative status and if there is any association between adjacent forces and mechanical complications in adult spinal deformity patients.

  • Knowledge Forum Deformity Needs Assessment Survey

    Principal investigator:

    Stephen Lewis


    Goal:

    To understand the knowledge gaps and open questions regarding patients with adult spinal deformity, and to assess the effectiveness of knowledge translation for instruments and recommendations already developed by the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Deformity.

  • * SMART: Durability of Supplementary Rod Constructs—SuppleMentAry Rod Technique (SMART)—For Long-segment Posterior Instrumented Spinal Fusion Procedures: A Multicenter Retrospective Comparative Study with Dual-rod Constructs

    Principal investigator:

    Justin S. Smith


    Co-Principal investigators:

    Stephen J. Lewis, Michael P. Kelly


    Goal:

    To compare rod fracture rates after index surgery between patients having received supplementary rod constructs and patients having received dual-rod constructs

    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06368245


    Additional information

    AO Spine Knowledge Forum Deformity launches study on supplementary rod constructs

  • */** SDIM: Spinal Deformity Intraoperative Monitoring (SDIM)—Understanding and Managing Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Changes During Spinal Deformity Surgery: A Prospective Interventional Study

    Principal Investigator:

    Stephen J. Lewis


    Co-Principal Investigators:

    Lawrence Lenke, Nasir Quraishi


    Goals:

    Aims to determine the incidence of intraoperative neuromonitoring alerts in complex, high-risk, spinal deformity surgeries and identify the events that lead to such alerts

    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03880292


    Remark:

    This project was awarded a Standard Research Grant (2018) from the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS).


    Additional information:

    On the way to reducing neurological injury during surgery


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • */** PEEDS: Prospective Evaluation of Elderly Deformity Surgery (PEEDS): A Prospective Observational, Multicenter Study

    Principal investigator:

    Stephen J. Lewis


    Co-Principal investigator:

    Sigurd Berven


    Goals:

    Aims to show an improvement in SRS-22 total score between baseline and 24 months and five years after surgery in patients at age 60 or older treated with major spinal reconstruction (spinal fusion of at least five levels) for adult spinal deformity

    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02035280


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • AO Spine Knowledge Forum Deformity Focus Issue

    Principal investigators:

    Stephen J. Lewis, Lawrence Lenke


    Goal:

    Aims to provide a thorough review of the current status of adult spinal deformity surgery and highlight areas of controversy. The issue will provide guidance through the current literature and help identify future directions to help answer some of the difficulties encountered in treating this complex and highly variable disorder.

  • POMa: AO Peri-Operative Management (POMa) of Adult Deformity or Degenerative Spine: An International Survey

    Principal investigator:

    Stephen J. Lewis


    Co-Principal investigator:

    So Kato


    Goal:

    To understand the current trends in perioperative adult spinal deformity surgery management based on an international survey


    Remark:

    This project is in cooperation with the KF Degenerative.


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • 2024 AO Spine Knowledge Forum Associate Research Award—Biomechanical Approach to Predict Mechanical Complications in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery

    Principal investigator:

    Christopher Nielsen


    Co-Principal investigator:

    Stephen J. Lewis


    Goals:

    To identify ideal sagittal parameters to minimize mechanical complications like proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and adjacent segment disease (ASD) following adult spinal deformity surgery. It involves two phases:

    1. a retrospective review of patients who underwent fusion surgery, using musculoskeletal models to calculate vertebral loading and investigate the association between vertebral forces and mechanical complications.
    2. an evaluation of the impact of various realignment criteria on adjacent forces to propose optimal alignment strategies
  • KF Deformity Needs Assessment

    Principal investigator:

    Stephen J. Lewis


    Goals:

    AO members were surveyed to identify the challenging questions and decisions they face when caring for spinal deformity patients. This evaluation also determined the effectiveness of knowledge translation for the tools and outputs already developed by the KF Deformity.

* This AO Spine-sponsored study is executed with support from the AO Innovation Translation Center (AO ITC) Clinical Evidence.

** Award-winning project

Completed research projects

  • ** AIS Consensus: An International Consensus on the Surgical Treatment Standards for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

    Principal investigator:

    Marinus de Kleuver


    Co-Principal investigator:

    Manabu Ito


    Goals:

    Established an international consensus on what constitutes optimal operative care for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients between 12 and 20 years of age with curves ranging from 40 to 90 degrees Cobb angle


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • ASD Consensus: An International Consensus on the Appropriate Treatment for Adults with Spinal Deformity

    Principal investigator:

    Sigurd Berven


    Co-Principal investigator:

    Marinus de Kleuver


    Goals:

    Identified the goals of care and management strategies that are appropriate for adult spinal deformity patients based upon worldwide expert opinion


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • COSSCO: Identification of a Core Outcome Set for SCOliosis (COSSCO)

    Principal investigator:

    Marinus de Kleuver


    Co-Principal investigator:

    David Polly


    Goals:

    Developed a core outcome set specific to spinal deformity that represents the minimum that should be measured and reported in all outcome registries of a specific condition


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • FLEXIS: FLEXIbility in Scoliosis (FLEXIS)—Comparison of Dynamic Radiographs in Determining Fusion Level in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Correction

    Principal investigator:

    Kenny Kwan


    Co-Principal investigators:

    Kenneth Cheung, Ahmet Alanay


    Goals:

    Identified the dynamic radiograph(s) that can most accurately predict the curve behavior after surgical correction in patients diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03296228


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • AO ASD: AO Spine Comprehensive Classification of Adult Spinal Deformity

    Principal investigator:

    J Naresh-Babu


    Co-Principal investigators:

    Manabu Ito, Jong-Beom Park, Kenny Kwan


    Goals:

    Developed a comprehensive classification that separates patients into clinically different subgroups that require different treatment strategies


    Additional information:

    AO Spine Adult Spinal Deformity Patient Profile—a new tool to optimize treatment of ASD


    Research Outputs:

    Publication summary

    AO Spine ASD Patient Profile

  • 2019 AO Spine Discovery Innovation Award—Tension Parameters in Junctional Tethers for Proximal Junctional Kyphosis

    Principal investigator:

    Tim O’Connor


    Co-Principal investigators:

    Mary O’Hehir, Jeffrey Mullin


    Goals:

    Determined the optimal tension required for junctional tether systems by using cadaveric models and finite element analysis


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • 2022 AO Spine Discovery and Innovation Award—Measuring the Utility of Artificial Intelligence Assistance for the Measurement of Full Alignment Parameters in Whole-spine Radiographs

    Principal investigator:

    Federico Landriel


    Co-Principal investigator:

    Santiago Hem


    Goals:

    Evaluated the effect of AI-assistance in the automatic calculation of radiographic spinal alignment parameters from whole spine x-rays on both measurement precision and time demand.


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • 2022 AO Spine Discovery and Innovation Award—Can Differences in Mechanics of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis and Degenerative Scoliosis Intervertebral Discs (IVDs) be Explained by Altered Matrix Degradation?

    Principal investigator:

    Ganesh Swamy


    Co-Principal investigators:

    David Hart, Paul Salo, Neil Duncan, Antoine Dufour


    Goals:

    1. Characterized the matrix proteome/degradome of the annulus fibrosus from patients with degenerative scoliosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis as compared to control IVDs. 
    2. Characterized the structure of elastin in the annulus fibrosus from patients with degenerative scoliosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis and its degradation products as compared to control IVDs.

    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • 2022 AO Spine Knowledge Forum Associated Research Award—Does Vertebral Body Tethering Cause Disc and Facet Joint Degeneration? A Mid-term MRI Study with Minimum Five Years Follow-up

    Principal investigator:

    Caglar Yilgor


    Co-Principal investigators:

    Ahmet Alanay, Altug Yucekul


    Goal:

    Using MRI, mid-term viability of the discs and facet joints of the intermediate and adjacent thoracic and lumbar levels were assessed for signs of degeneration, and the study evaluated signs of spontaneous fusion.


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

  • */** Scoli-RISK-1: Evaluation of Neurologic Complications Associated with Surgical Correction of Adult Spinal Deformity: A Prospective, Observational, Multi-center Study and 5-year Follow-up Extension

    Principal investigator:

    Lawrence G. Lenke


    Co-Principal investigator:

    Michael G. Fehlings


    Goals:

    Aim was to establish the risk of neurologic deficit related to surgical correction of adult spinal deformity and to identify characteristics associated with increased risk of neurologic complications related to the surgery

    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01305343

    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02949245


    Remark:

    This project received co-funding from the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) and Norton Healthcare


    Additional Information:

    Evaluation of neurologic complications in adult spinal deformity surgery: insights from the landmark Scoli-RISK study


    Research Output:

    Publication summary

* This AO Spine-sponsored study is executed with support from the AO Innovation Translation Center (AO ITC) Clinical Evidence.

** Award-winning project

KF Deformity Steering Committee

Stephen Lewis
Chairperson
Toronto Western Hospital
Toronto, Canada

Michael Kelly
Co-chair elect
UCSD and Rady Children’s Hospital
San Diego, CA, USA

Justin Smith
Co-chair elect
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, USA

Yukihiro Matsuyama
Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
Hamamatsu, Japan

Caglar Yilgor
Acibadem University Maslak Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey

Kenny Kwan
University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong

So Kato

So Kato
The University of Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan

Ch Ames

Christopher Ames
University of California San Francisco,
San Francisco, CA, USA

E Klineberg

Eric Klineberg
UT Health Houston
Houston, TX, USA

KF Advisory Board

Kenneth Cheung
The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China

Co-Chairperson 2011-2013

David Polly
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, USA

Yong Qiu
Nanjing University
Nanjing, China

Christopher Shaffrey
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, USA

Lawrence Lenke
Columbia University New York,
New York, USA

Co-Chairperson/Chairperson 2011-2015

Sigurd Berven
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, USA

Ahmet Alanay
Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar
University School of Medicine
Istanbul, Turkey

Ferran Pellise Urquiza
Hospital Vall d'Hebron / Barcelona Spine Institute Hospital Quiron
Barcelona, Spain

  • KF Deformity Associate Members
    Ahmed Abdelgawaad, Helios Hospitals Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
    André Luis Fernandes Andújar, Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusmão, Florianópolis, Brazil
    Nelson Astur, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein – Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
    Saumyajit Basu, Kothari Medical Center and Park Clinic, Kolkata, India
    Pedro Berjano, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy
    Aaron J. Buckland, Melbourne Orthopaedic Group Australia, Melbourne Australia
    Anastasios Charalampidis, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
    Elias Elias, University of Texas, Texas, USA
    Swamy Ganesh, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
    Yoshida Go, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
    Munish Gupta, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
    Jeffrey Hills, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, USA
    Miranda van Hooff, Radboud University Medical Center/Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, Netherlands
    Serena Hu, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
    Yashar Javidan, University of California, Davis Health, Davis, CA, USA
    Thorsten Jentzsch, Balgrist Universitätsklinik, Zürich, Switzerland
    Shen Jianxiong, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China
    Kristen Jones, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
    Krishna Kumar, VPS Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi, India
    Darryl Lau, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
    Marta Morawska, Project Manager
    Brian Neuman, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
    Fred Nicholls, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
    Christopher Nielsen, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
    Colby Oitment, McMaster University, Hamilton Ontario, Canada
    Robert Ravinsky, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
    Anna Rienmueller, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien Austria
    Brett Rocos, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
    Zeeshan Sardar, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
    Juan Sardi, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Texas, USA
    Jonathan Sembrano, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minnesota MN, USA
    John Street, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, Canada
    Alekos Theologis, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
    Juan Uribe, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix AZ, USA
    Hiroki Ushirozako Hamamatsu, University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
    Kota Watanabe, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
    Zhu Zezhang, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China

Knowledge Forum Manager

Marta Morawska

Project Manager

Other Knowledge Forums

AO Spine KF Tumor

AO Spine KF Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

AO Spine KF Degenerative

AO Spine KF Trauma and Infection

“There is a myriad of outcome studies and instruments out there; everybody uses different tools to measure their quality of care. We help bring more rationale to the options that are available.”

Marinus de Kleuver, Past Chairperson KF Deformity