Severe progressive scoliosis in an adult female possibly secondary thoracic surgery in childhood treated with scoliosis specific Schroth physiotherapy: Case presentation

A systematic scoping review and textual narrative synthesis of long-term health-related quality of life outcomes for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

INTRODUCTION

Idiopathic scoliosis is a musculoskeletal condition leading to deformity of the spinal column. There is strong evidence reporting short term health-related quality of life outcomes, but less is known about the longer-term impact of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This paper reports the current evidence on long-term non-clinical outcomes of AIS.

METHOD

A systematic scoping literature review combining descriptive and textual narrative synthesis was undertaken. Studies were included if they: sampled or followed up participants at least 10 years after diagnosis and/or treatment, contained health-related quality of life data that could be extracted, where the intervention (or diagnosis in the case of untreated) occurred after 1980, and where data was extractable for modern rod and screw or fusion techniques, non-surgical interventions or untreated patients.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies were included. Overall, the HRQOL measures utilised by these studies suggest that HRQOL is not related to participant demographics or AIS characteristics or type or extent of surgical intervention. Some studies suggest that those with AIS scored worse than controls.

DISCUSSION

Results suggest that AIS participants had a generally good quality of life, although this was often worse than those without AIS. No other clear relationships were found. The available literature fails to address more fundamental questions about how HRQOL is conceptualised for those with AIS, and there is value in pursuing qualitative inquiry in this area.

Effects of a Personalized Exercise Rehabilitation Device on Dynamic Postural Balance for Scoliotic Patients: A Feasibility Study

Scoliosis, which is defined as a 3-dimensional spine deformity, may be caused by new-onset degenerative changes that occur well after skeletal maturity and exhibit an asymmetrical postural balance pattern more common to adult deformity than adolescent scoliosis. The aim of this study was to verify whether an exercise program using a personalized exercise rehabilitation device can influence the dynamic postural balance of scoliotic patients. The personalized exercise rehabilitation device was designed to increase the efficacy of 3D postural correction for different curve patterns. 20 subjects were instructed to perform the personalized exercise program that consists of axial elongation, derotation, deflexion, facilitation and stabilization. The results of this study showed that the differences in clinical variables associated with imbalanced posture between the convex and concave side decreased after performing the personalized exercise. Consequentially, a well-designed and manufactured exercise rehabilitation device could be helpful for improving postural balance. Furthermore, the paper suggests that specific exercises using a personalized exercise rehabilitation device can provide the most appropriate exercise therapy and positively correct the asymmetrical postural balance patterns for scoliotic patients.

Rehabilitation in adult spinal deformity

Adult spinal deformity causes significant health-related problems such as pain and disability in adults. Currently, there are several non-operative management strategies such as pain medications, physical modalities, exercises, bracing or interventional procedures. Specific exercises including strengthening of back and abdominal muscles, neuromuscular re-education for daily tasks, and active self-correction are vital to improve postural control and spinal stability. Bracing for a few hours a day can help reduce pain and provide spinal stability in adults. In case of severe disability and pain unresponsive to non-operative treatments, spinal fusion with instrumentation is an alternative. Postoperative rehabilitation can help to reduce pain and disability and improve return to activity or work. Protecting the spine early after surgery and timing of initiation of exercises with respect to osseointegration and bone remodeling phases are important principles of postoperative rehabilitation. In this review, rehabilitation in adult spinal deformity is discussed in the light of the literature.

Outcome of 24 Weeks of Combined Schroth and Pilates Exercises on Cobb Angle, Angle of Trunk Rotation, Chest Expansion, Flexibility and Quality of Life in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis

Background

This study aimed to quantify the outcomes of combining Schroth and Pilates exercises on the Cobb angle, angle of trunk rotation (ATR), chest expansion, flexibility (trunk flexion), and quality of life (QoL) in adolescents with mild and moderate idiopathic scoliosis.

Material/Methods

Sixty-nine adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis aged 10–17 years, presenting with a Cobb angle of 10–45º were enrolled in this study. The treatment protocol, including selected exercises from Schroth and Pilates methods, was performed over 24 weeks and consisted of 2 periods of 2-week treatment regimens performed daily for 60 minutes. Each of treatment periods was then followed by the same home program treatment for 10 weeks. Cobb angle (x-rays), ATR (Scoliometer), chest expansion (cm), trunk flexion (cm, distance between C7 to S2 with measuring tape), and QoL (SRS-22r Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire) were assessed pre-treatment, at 12 week, and at 24 weeks.

Results

Significant improvements (P<0.05) were found in both groups of patients wearing and not wearing a brace for Cobb angle (from 21.97±4.99° to 18.11±6.39°; from 14.19±3.11° to 11.66±2.73°), angle of trunk rotation (from 7.19±1.36° to 5.36±1.66°; from 4.72±1.04° to 3.58±0.94°), chest expansion (from 2.56±0.84 cm to 3.46±0.72 cm; from 2.57±0.87 cm to 3.52±0.72 cm), trunk flexion (from 9.55±1.95 cm to 14.33±2.40 cm; from 9.82±2.61 cm to 13.98±2.18 cm) and QoL (from 3.50±0.27 to 3.82±0.2; from 3.42±0.24 to 3.78±0.23) respectively.

Conclusions

This study showed that combined exercises provided benefit on the Cobb angle, ATR, chest expansion, trunk flexion and QoL in adolescents with mild and moderate idiopathic scoliosis.

The Role of Vitamin D in the Pathogenesis of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Several theories have been proposed to explain the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) until present. However, limited data are available regarding the impact of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency on scoliosis. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent in adolescents, including AIS patients. A series of studies conducted in Hong Kong have shown that as many as 30% of these patients have osteopenia. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level has been found to positively correlate with bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy adolescents and negatively with Cobb angle in AIS patients; therefore, vitamin D deficiency is believed to play a role in AIS pathogenesis. This study attempts to review the relevant literature on AIS etiology to examine the association of vitamin D and various current theories. Our review suggested that vitamin D deficiency is associated with several current etiological theories of AIS. We postulate that vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency affects AIS development by its effect on the regulation of fibrosis, postural control, and BMD. Subclinical deficiency of vitamin K2, a fat-soluble vitamin, is also prevalent in adolescents; therefore, it is possible that the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is related to decreased fat intake. Further studies are required to elucidate the possible role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and clinical management of AIS.