Pediatric Spinal Deformity: Who is Driving the Field?

A bstract Purpose: This study aims to identify the groups of surgeons most influential in the field of pediatric spinal deformity surgery and to assess their training experiences and contributions to the literature. This includes analyzing fellowship training positions, authorship in leading journals, and surgical caseloads during residency and fellowship. Materials and Methods: We gathered data on fellowship training in orthopedic spine surgery, pediatric orthopedic surgery, complex spine neurosurgery, and pediatric neurosurgery from various directories and matching programs. We screened journals Spine , Journal of Neurosurgery (JNS) , JNS Pediatrics , Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) , Spinal Deformity , and the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics for articles related to pediatric spinal deformity surgery published between May 2019 and July 2021. We analyzed authorship lists for the authors’ training backgrounds. Additionally, we sought data on pediatric spinal deformity cases from insurance companies and large-scale healthcare data initiatives. Results: Orthopedic spine surgery fellowships offer the most positions with an 82.2% average fill rate, followed by pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowships with a 75.4% fill rate. Neurosurgical spine fellowships and pediatric neurosurgery fellowships had fewer positions and lower fill rates. Analysis of 4068 articles showed that pediatric orthopedic surgeons published the most on pediatric spinal deformity, with the journal Spine Deformity leading in relevant publications. Overall, orthopedic surgeons dominated the literature and fellowship positions. Conclusion: Orthopedic surgeons have the most fellowship opportunities and are the primary authors in the field of pediatric spinal deformity surgery. The study highlights the need for targeted fellowship training and institutional support to improve expertise in pediatric spinal deformity surgery. Embracing collaboration between orthopedic and neurosurgeons is essential to advance the field and ensure high-quality care for pediatric patients.