Return to school after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) posterior spinal fusion: Establishing a baseline in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction

Return to school (RTS) after adolescent idiopathic (AIS) scoliosis surgery is a critical outcome measure signifying a return to everyday life. Prior studies in Western populations report an average RTS of 42.3 days for AIS surgery. This study aims to estimate RTS and identify factors affecting it in Saudi Arabia.

Method

This retrospective cross-sectional study included 48 AIS patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion (PSF). Data collected included demographics, surgical details, and recovery timelines. After identifying the average time to return to school, patients were categorized based on RTS duration, with a 42-day cutoff. Factors that could delay the time to return to school were analyzed.

Result

Among the 48 patients, 41 (85.4%) were female, with a mean age of 14.47 years (SD 2.7). The average RTS was 60.1 days (SD 24). Significant associations were found between RTS and age at surgery (12.92 years for RTS ≤ 42 days vs 14.84 years for RTS > 42 days, p = 0.04) and levels fused (15.40 for RTS ≤ 42 days vs 13.38 for RTS > 42 days, p = 0.036). Other factors showed no significant associations.

Conclusion

The average RTS after scoliosis correction in Saudi Arabia is two weeks longer than the average in other countries. Further studies are needed to develop solutions to reduce the delayed RTS in Saudi Arabia.