Scoliosis Research Society Announces the 2024 Douglas Burton, MD, Best Adult Deformity Article in Spine Deformity Journal Award

Milwaukee, WI -- The 2024 winner of the Douglas C. Burton Best Adult Spine Deformity Article published in Spine Deformity Journal is Knee flexion compensation in postoperative adult spinal deformity patients: implications for sagittal balance and clinical outcomes | Spine Deformity

The study focused on patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) and aimed to determine if people who rely on bending their knees (knee flexion) to achieve good posture after spine surgery have worse outcomes compared to those who achieve good alignment without knee flexion.

Researchers looked at 263 patients who had spinal surgery between 2014 and 2020. Patients were grouped based on their posture and whether they used knee bending to stand upright after surgery. They checked the patients' alignment and knee bending six weeks after surgery and followed them for two years.

Most patients (61%) achieved good posture without needing knee bending. Patients in the "well-aligned, no knee bending" group had the best outcomes, with the lowest reoperation rates after one and two years. Patients in the "poorly aligned, with knee bending" group had the highest reoperation rates

The study patients who achieve good posture without relying on knee bending tend to recover better and need fewer follow-up surgeries. It’s important to focus on achieving proper alignment during surgery to avoid relying on knee bending. Surgeons and medical teams can consider this when planning and evaluating post-surgical outcomes.

This work was recognized at the Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting September 16-20, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

The official journal of the Scoliosis Research Society, Spine Deformity aims to foster the optimal care of all patients with spine deformities worldwide. Spine Deformity is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to disseminating knowledge on the etiology, biomechanics, treatment methods, and outcomes of all types of spinal deformities. The international Editorial Board is committed to publishing original articles in the form of clinical and basic research while ensuring a global perspective. 

The inaugural Douglas C. Burton Best Adult Spine Deformity Article in the Spine Deformity Journal was announced in 2023 at the 58th Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA, in honor of member Douglas Burton, MD.

Dr. Burton is an SRS Lifetime Achievement Award winner for distinguished service to the Society, as well as significant contributions to spinal deformity care.

His research interests include the development of disease-specific health-related quality of life instruments and the study of complications and outcomes associated with spinal deformity surgery. He has authored or co-authored over 300 peer reviewed publications and serves as a Deputy Editor of Spine Deformity, the official journal of the Scoliosis Research Society.

Listen to the paper authors discuss winning this award on the latest episode of Scoliosis Dialogues: An SRS Podcast.

About Scoliosis Research Society

The Scoliosis Research Society is a non-profit, professional organization, made up of physicians and allied health personnel. Our primary focus is on providing continuing medical education for health care professionals and on funding/supporting research in spinal deformities. Founded in 1966, SRS has gained recognition as the world's premier spine deformity society. Please visit www.srs.org for further information. Also follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram.