Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes using validated measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), 25 years after termination of scoliosis treatment, in a cohort of Adolescent Idioapthic Scoliosis Patients.
Material and Methods
219 consecutive patients treated with Boston brace or posterior spinal fusion using Harrington-DTT between 1983–90, were invited to participate in a long-term evaluation study. A validated Danish version of the Scoliosis Research Society 22R (SRS22R) and Short Form-36 (SF36V1) were administered to the patients two weeks before the clinical and radiological examination.
Results
159 (72,6%) patients participated in the clinical follow up and questionnaires, 11 patients participated only in the questionnaires, 8 emigrated, 4 were excluded due to progressive neurological disease and 2 were deceased. The total follow up was 170 patients (83%), average follow up was 24,4 years (22–30 years). SRS 22-R domains scores were within the range described as normal for the general population with no statistical difference between the two treatment groups except in the Satisfaction domain, were the PSF group had better scores than the braced group. The SF 36 PCS and MCS scores in both AIS cohorts were similar to the scores for the general population.
Conclusion
HRQOL, as measured by the SRS 22-R and SF-36, of adult AIS patients treated with Boston brace or PSF during adolescents were similar to the general population. No clinical progression of the deformity has been detected during the 25-follow up period. The PSF group had a small but statistical significant higher score in the Satisfaction domain compared with the braced group.