Health-related quality of life in untreated versus brace-treated patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a long-term follow-up.
METHODS
The previous Scoliosis Research Society brace study (JBJS-A, 1995) included patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with moderate curve sizes (25 degrees -35 degrees). The Swedish patients in this study were examined in a long-term follow-up.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to analyze and compare quality of life in adulthood between AIS patients who were only observed or treated with a brace during adolescence.


BACKGROUND
Quality of life as measured by the SRS-22 has not previously been presented for adult untreated AIS patients.


METHODS
Forty patients who were only observed (due to a curve increase of less than 6 degrees until maturity), and 37 brace-treated patients attended the complete follow-up, including clinical and radiologic examination, and answered 2 quality of life questionnaires (SRS-22 and Short Form-36 [SF-36]).


RESULTS
No differences were found between the groups in terms of age at follow-up (mean: 32 years), follow-up time after maturity (mean: 16.0 years), and curve size at inclusion (mean: 30 degrees) or at follow-up (mean: 35 degrees). The SRS-22/total score was a mean of 4.2 for braced patients and 4.1 for only observed patients. Neither total scores/subscales of the SRS-22 or SF-36 differed significantly between the groups. For the SF-36, no differences in relation to the Swedish age-matched norm scales were found for either group.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with moderate AIS report good quality of life in their 30s, as measured by both the SRS-22 and SF-36, regardless of whether they received no active treatment or were brace treated during adolescence. Neither of the groups displayed any difference compared with the age-matched norm groups for the SF-36.
Danielsson
Aina J
AJ
Department of Orthopedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. danielsson.aina@telia.com
Hasserius
Ralph
R
Ohlin
Acke
A
Nachemson
Alf L
AL
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome