How do scoliotic women shrink throughout life?

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients from surgery to after 30 years using SRS-22 questionnaire

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective longitudinal follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of post-operative AIS patients from less than 1 year to over 30 years using SRS-22 questionnaire. Some of our AIS patients who operated since the establishment of the scoliosis clinic have passed the 30th year. The HRQOL of patients many years after surgery had yet to be summarized and reported.

METHODS

SRS-22 questionnaire was conducted by 254 operated patients between the year 2016 and 2018. All post-operative patients who visited a specialized clinic for annual check-up within the study period completed SRS-22. The number of years since surgery per questionnaire was grouped per 1 year until the 10th year, and per 5 years afterwards. The 6 SRS-22 domain scores (function, pain, self-image, mental, satisfaction, mean) were compared across time period.

RESULTS

All SRS-22 domain scores in post-operative patients, except "Self-image", were relatively stable in the first 5 years until a steady drop starting from the 10th year. "Self-image" was statistically lower than "Function" and "Pain" from the 10th years to more than 30 years.

CONCLUSIONS

HRQOL of post-operative AIS patients remained stable until 10 years after surgery and was steadily decreasing. "Self-image" was consistently and statistically lower than the other scores. Patients who have surgically treated for more than 25 years are now at their perimenopause. Specific medical and psychosocial cares for this kind of patients are recommended to provide during the routine medical check-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.