There is room for improvement of adult spinal deformity knowledge among neurosurgeons, according to the results of a survey published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
The survey polled members of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. It assessed the deformity knowledge base and impact of current training, education and practice experience to identify opportunities for improved education. The survey includes responses from 1,456 neurosurgeons. Of these respondents, 57 percent had practiced for less than 10 years and 20 percent had completed a spine fellowship.
According to the survey:
• The overall correct answer percentage was 42 percent.
• Radiology/spinal pelvic alignment questions had the lowest percentage of correct answers — 38 percent.
• Clinical evaluation and surgical indications questions had the highest percentage — 44 percent — of correct answers.
• More than 10 years in practice, completion of a spine fellowship and those with more than 75 percent of their practice dedicated to spine were associated with greater overall percentage.
• The highest error was seen in risk for postoperative coronal imbalance, which had a very low rate of correct responses, only 15 percent.
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