Quality of life after conservative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract

As an important consideration in medical care, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) refers to the patient's ability to enjoy normal life activities. When assessing the effectiveness of conservative treatment of AIS, HRQoL variables are more important than the radiographic results or pulmonary function. The present study examines the impact of conservative treatment in HRQoL of the AIS patients. Thirty-two female patients with a mean age of 13.5 (range 12-16) years, a mean Cobb angle of 29.4 degrees (range 21-38 degrees ) and a mean angle of trunk inclination (ATI) 7.9 degrees (range 5 degrees -18 degrees ) were treated with a full time application of a modified Boston brace and occasionally physiotherapy, for a minimum of 2 years. HRQoL was measured with the Brace Questionnaire (BrQ) at baseline and at the end of treatment. Correlations were determined by the Pearson correlation coefficient, with p < 0.05 considered significant. AIS patients scored lower in all the domains of BrQ at the end of treatment. This difference was statistically significant for the mean overall score of BrQ and for the domains of general health perception, physical functioning, emotional functioning, self-esteem and aesthetics, bodily pain and social functioning. The scores in the domains of vitality and school activity were not affected. The HRQoL immediately after the end of conservative treatment of AIS is found to have been negatively affected. Because of limitations in study design, this finding does not necessarily implicate the conservative treatment itself, but highlights the importance of HRQoL measurement in assessing how AIS patients perceive the impact of their disease.