The psychopathological influence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in korean male : an analysis of multiphasic personal inventory test results

Using Photogrammetry to Analyze Anatomical Changes in the Nipple in Juvenile and Adolescent Scoliosis Patients

BACKGROUND

The need for an objective set of anterior trunk measurements, such as nipple and clavicular shoulder joints, is essential to quantify the anterior asymmetry present in scoliosis. This study aims to characterize breast asymmetry (BA) in young individuals with scoliosis using photogrammetry.

METHODS

Digital photographs of the anterior trunk of the 51 scoliosis patients aged 4-20 years were taken from an anterior perspective. These images were then transferred to a computer. Ten parameters were measured using the ImageJ software. The positions of patients' nipples were classified into 6 types based on ratios on the x-axis.

RESULTS

The majority of patients had a right breast that was larger, intensifying the apparent BA due to trunk rotation. The apical vertebra level in patients was found at T8 in 23.6% and T9 in 45.1%. In 92.5% of the patients, the right breast was consistently larger. The lengths between the lateral boundaries and nipples of the right and left breasts and between the medial boundary and nipple of the right breast were statistically significantly higher in males than in females (p < 0.05). Significant differences were found when comparing the values of the lengths between the medial boundaries and nipples of the right and left breasts, the difference in length between the right and left acromioclavicular joint lines, and the angles of the nipple and acromioclavicular joint with the degrees of scoliosis in juvenile and adolescents (p < 0.05). Pearson regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between BA differences and the Cobb angle with a correlation coefficient of 0.901. Factors related to breast aesthetics, like differences in the height of nipples and the distance from the sternal notch to the nipple, represent 30% of the overall score.

CONCLUSION

The study concluded that there is a significant correlation between the severity of scoliosis and BA differences. Augmentation mammaplasty for BA not only decreased the breast difference but also leveled the nipple disparities. Photogrammetry is considered to be an alternative to other methods and is believed to contribute to the follow-up of BA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

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Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and Mental Health Disorders: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common type of scoliosis. The condition begins in puberty, affects 1–4% of adolescents, and disproportionately affects young women. Our aim was to comprehensively examine the association between AIS and risk for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality dysfunctional mechanisms. Methods: Literature review of related articles published in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus up to 15 July 2021. Results: A total of 30 studies were deemed eligible, examining the effects of AIS upon mental health, and using appropriate psychometric inventories. Studies highlighted the association of brace treatment with elevated anxiety. In addition, mental health conditions and traits (e.g., anxiety and depressive symptoms, neuroticism) were detected more frequently amongst AIS patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: AIS represents a risk factor for mental health disorders. More longitudinal studies, utilizing accurate psychometric instruments, are warranted, to reveal the current impact of AIS on the mental health of youngsters, along with the tailoring of well-targeted interventions to reduce the burden of mental health issues in adulthood.

Increased Risk of Psychopathological Abnormalities in Subjects With Unilateral Hearing Loss: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives

Although unilateral hearing loss (UHL) has been proven to be associated with educational and behavioral problems, few studies have investigated psychopathological abnormalities in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychopathological influence of UHL among Korean 19-year-old males.

Methods

The authors retrospectively compared the objective personality test profiles of 602 subjects with UHL with those of 23,790 peers with normal hearing. All participants in the current study were 19-year-old males who underwent a physical examination and completed the Korean Military Multiphasic Personality Inventory for conscription at the Military Manpower Administration from February 2015 to December 2016.

Results

Significantly higher scores were found on neurosis scales in the UHL group than in the normal-hearing group (50.9± 10.8 vs. 44.9±6.0 for anxiety; 51.0±10.5 vs. 44.9±5.2 for depression; 51.1±10.4 vs. 45.1±6.81 for somatization, all P<0.001). The psychopathy scales were also significantly higher in the UHL group than in the normal-hearing group (49.3±9.4 vs. 46.3±5.7 for schizophrenia; 51.1±11.2 vs. 44.3±5.8 for personality disorders; 51.1±10.5 vs. 45.7±3.7 for paranoia, all P<0.001).

Conclusion

Nineteen-year-old males with UHL tended to have more abnormal results on personality tests than controls with normal hearing, suggesting that UHL may be related with a higher risk of psychopathology.

Can Breast Asymmetry Following the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis with Growing Rod Be Prevented? : A Preliminary Analysis

Objective

It can be assumed that the progression of scoliosis in the juvenile period will increase the asymmetry in the rib cage, and thus will contribute to an increase in the breast asymmetry (BA) in the future. We are looking for answers to the questions; “How will the breasts look with respect to each other and what is the possibility of developing BA in the early follow-up period following the early surgical treatment and final fusion surgery of juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (JIS)?” For this reason, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the breast asymmetries of patients in the period after the final fusion.

Methods

Following growing rod treatment, final fusion was achieved in 12 females with JIS. We used the anthropomorphic measurement of the modified BREAST-V formula to assess whether there was an asymmetry between the breasts after an average of 4.8 years (2–11) following final fusion.

Results

In comparison, the mean volume of the left breast (222.4 mL [range, 104.1–330.2]) was larger than the mean volume of the right breast volume (214.5 mL [range, 95.2–326.7]) (p=0.034). The left breast was larger in 75% of the patients. BA was observed in 50% of the patients. No correlation was detected between the Cobb angle of the patient after final fusion and BA (p=0.688).

Conclusion

In the late follow-up period, BA was detected in 50% of the patients with JIS who achieved final fusion after treatment with growing rod. In majority of the patients, left breast was larger. The patients with JIS and their families can be informed prior to the operation about the probability of BA seen in the follow-up period after fusion.

Evaluation of choroidal changes in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography

BACKGROUND

We aimed to evaluate the choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional, observational comparative study, 56 eyes of 56 patients with AIS and 56 eyes of 56 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included. All participants underwent complete ophthalmologic examination and CT measurements at the fovea and at 750 μm intervals from the fovea to 1,500 μm in the nasal and temporal site obtained by spectral domain EDI-OCT.

RESULTS

The mean subfoveal CT was lower in the AIS patients (285.2 ± 24.4 μm) than that of the controls (313.2 ± 28.8 μm; p < 0.001). The difference was also significant at all extrafoveal measurement points (p < 0.001 for all). There were negative correlations of CTs at subfoveal and extrafoveal locations with the Cobb's angle in the AIS patients (for subfoveal location: r = -0.71 and p < 0.001; and for extrafoveal locations: r = -0.66 and p < 0.001 at 750 μm in the nasal side; r = -0.64 and p < 0.001 at 1,500 μm in the nasal side; r = -0.71 and p < 0.001 at 750 μm in the temporal side; and r = -0.69 and p < 0.001 at 1,500 μm in the temporal side).

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study showed that AIS patients have thinner CT compared to that of healthy subjects. The lower CT was correlated with the increased angle of scoliosis.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery by a Neurosurgeon: Learning Curve for Neurosurgeons

OBJECTIVE

To determine a neurosurgeon's learning curve of surgical treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective analysis. Forty-six patients were treated by a single neurosurgeon between 2011 and 2017 using posterior segmental instrumentation and fusion. According to the time period, the former and latter 23 patients were divided into group 1 and group 2, respectively. Patients' demographic data, curve magnitude, number of levels treated, amount of correction achieved, radiographic/clinical outcomes, and complications were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The majority were females (34 vs. 12) with average ages of 15.0 versus 15.6, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 24.6 months. The average number of fusion levels was similar with 10.3 and 11.5 vertebral bodies in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The average Cobb angle of major curvature was 59.8° and 58.5° in groups 1 and 2, respectively. There observed significant reductions of operative time (324.4 vs. 224.7 minutes, P = 0.007) and estimated blood loss (648.3 vs. 438.0 mL, P = 0.027) in group 2. The correction rate of the major structural curve was greater in group 2 (70.7% vs. 81.0%, P = 0.001). There was no case of neurologic deficit, infection, and revision for screw malposition. One patient of group 1 underwent fusion extension surgery for shoulder asymmetry.

CONCLUSION

Radiographic and clinical outcomes of AIS patients treated by a neurosurgeon were acceptable. AIS surgery may be performed with an acceptable rate of complications after about 20 surgeries. With acquisition of surgical experiences, neurosurgeons could perform deformity surgery for AIS effectively and safely.

Scoliosis and the Subsequent Risk of Depression: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study in Taiwan

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study by using the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to conduct a large-scale cohort study to investigate the relationship between scoliosis and depression.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The association between scoliosis and depression has rarely been studied in Asian populations.

METHODS

The study cohort consisted of patients with diagnosis of scoliosis between 2003 and 2005 (N = 1409). A comparison cohort was constructed from five age- and gender-matched control subjects selected via random sampling (N = 7045). Data on adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) of depression, 5-year freedom from depression rates, and risk factors for depression for the two cohorts were compared. All subjects were tracked for 5 years from the date of cohort entry to identify the development of depression. Cox proportional hazard regressions were performed to evaluate the 5-year freedom from depression rates. This study is supported by the University research grant without any study-specific conflicts.

RESULTS

During the 5-year follow-up period, 116 and 307 depression patients belonged to the scoliosis cohort and the comparison cohort, respectively. The AHRs of depression in patients with scoliosis was higher [AHR 1.95; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.58-2.42; P < 0.001] than that of the controls during the 5-year follow-up. The risk of depression also demonstrated to be age-dependent for scoliosis patients. The middle-age (41-65 years old) and young adults (18-40 years old) scoliosis patients had higher AHRs (middle-age: AHR 2.45; 95% CI 1.67-3.59; P < 0.05; young adult: AHR 1.99; 95% CI 1.41-2.82; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The population-based study indicated that patients with scoliosis may have an increased risk of depression. Health care professionals should consider designing and planning effective psychological prevention and treatment for scoliosis patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Treatment by a Korean Neurosurgeon: The Changing Role for Neurosurgeons

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate radiographic/clinical outcomes of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients treated by a Korean neurosurgeon.

Methods

Ten AIS patients were treated by a single neurosurgeon between January 2011 and September 2013 utilizing segmental instrumentation with pedicle screws. Basic demographic information, curve pattern by Lenke classification, number of levels treated, amount of correction achieved, radiographic/clinical outcomes [by Scolisis Resarch Society (SRS-22r) questionnaire] and complications were evaluated to determine the surgical results. Pulmonary function test was utilized to assess forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) before and after surgery.

Results

The average percentage of correction of the major structural curve was 73.6% (ranged from 64% to 81.5%). Preoperative and final postoperative absolute FVC averaged 3.03 L and 3.76 L (0.73 L increase, p=0.046), and absolute FEV1 averaged 2.63 L and 3.49 L (0.86 L increase, p=0.021). Preoperative and final postoperative average self-image and function scores of SRS-22r were, 2.6±0.5, 3.3±0.1, 4.0±0.5, and 4.6±0.0, respectively. There was a significant improvement of the self-image and function scores of SRS-22r questionnaires before and after surgery (p<0.05). There was no case of neurological deficit, infection and revision for screw malposition. One patient underwent a fusion extension surgery for shoulder asymmetry.

Conclusion

Radiographic/clinical outcomes of AIS patients treated by a Korean neurosurgeon were acceptable. Fundamental understanding of pediatric spinal deformity is essential for the practice of AIS surgery.

Emotional indicators in young patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: a study through the drawing of Human Figure

Background

Investigating Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is considered determinant in patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) in clinical as in research field. The aim of the present study is to explore the most relevant aspects of personality of the patients with AIS and its relationship with HRQL.

Method

50 patients (mean age = 16 years) were given a socio-demographic data questionnaire, the Human Figure Drawing (HFD) and SRS (Scoliosis Research Society) -22.

Results

In Subtotal SRS-22, patients presented a mean value of 3.9. In HFD, half of these patients presented physical and/or emotional tensions with reference to the shoulders and almost all of them did not show any expression of aggressiveness. No relationship between personality and HRQL was confirmed. The older the patients were, the more body tension was discovered as well as the more concerns about their bodies they showed to have. There was also a correlation between growing old and a decreasing in Mental Health. Previous conservative treatment did not show any impact on personality or on HRQL.

Conclusions

Patients with AIS suffer stress and general concern more frequently with the increase of age. We suggest an appropriate supportive treatment for this type of patients.