Back Pain and Quality of Life 10 Years After Segmental Pedicle Screw Instrumentation for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

• Study Design.Comparative cohort study. Objective.The aim of the present study was to evaluate pain and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in surgically managed patients with a minimum follow-up of 10 years compared with patients with untreated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and a healthy control group. Summary of Background Data.Posterior spinal fusion with pedicle screws is the standard treatment for AIS, although it remains unclear whether this procedure results in improved long-term HRQoL compared with untreated patients with AIS. Patients and Methods.Sixty-four consecutive patients at a minimum follow-up of 10 years, who underwent posterior pedicle screw instrumentation for AIS were prospectively enrolled. Fifty-three (83%) of these patients completed Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) 24 questionnaires, clinical examination, and standing spinal radiographs. Pain and HRQoL were compared with age and sex-matched patients with untreated AIS and healthy individuals. Results.The mean major curve was 57 degrees preoperatively and 15 degrees at the 10-year follow-up. SRS-24 self-image domain score showed a significant improvement from preoperative to 2 years and remained significantly better at the 10-year follow-up (P < 0.001). Patients fused to L3 or below had lower pain, satisfaction, and total score than patients fused to L2 or above (P < 0.05), but self-image, function, and activity scores did not differ between groups at 10-year follow-up. Pain, self-image, general activity, and total SRS domains were significantly better at 10-year follow-up in the surgically treated patients as compared with untreated patients (all P < 0.05). Healthy controls had significantly higher total scores than those surgically treated at 10-year follow-ups (P < 0.001). Conclusion.Patients undergoing segmental pedicle screw instrumentation for AIS maintain high-level HRQoL during a 10-year follow-up. Their HRQoL was significantly better than in the untreated patients with AIS, except for the function domain. However, HRQoL remained at a lower level than in healthy controls.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

fusion level

health-related quality of life

healthy controls

pedicle screw instrumentation

posterior spinal fusion

untreated patients

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)