Management of spinal conditions in patients with Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease (PD) is increasingly prevalent in the aging population. Spine disorders in patients with PD may be degenerative in nature or may arise secondary to motor effects related to the parkinsonian disease process. Physicians providing care for patients with PD and spine pathologies must be aware of several factors that affect treatment, including the patterns of spinal deformity, complex drug interactions, and PD-associated osteoporosis. Following spine surgery, complication rates are higher in patients with PD than in those without the disease. Literature on spine surgery in this patient population is limited by small cohort size, the heterogeneous patient population, and variable treatment protocols. However, most studies emphasize the need for preoperative optimization of motor control with appropriate medications and deep brain stimulation, as well as consultation with a movement disorder specialist. Future studies must control for confounding variables, such as the type of surgery and PD severity, to improve understanding of spinal pathology and treatment options in this patient population.