Surgical deformity correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis significantly improves patients' quality of life and psychological well-being, according to a prospective study in The European Spine Journal.
Here are five things to know:
1. Study authors evaluated 41 consecutive patients who underwent AIS surgery for changes in their pre- and postoperative quality of life and psychiatric status. The 41 evaluated patients were compared to a 52-patient control group.
2. Researchers observed a significant decrease in postoperative first-year Cobb angle and shift imbalance compared with the preoperative values.
3. Postoperative first-year thoracic kyphosis angle and body height significantly increased compared to preoperative measures.
4. Patients' postoperative Children's Depression Inventory score, Body Cathexis Scale score and anxiety inventory scores decreased significantly compared from preoperative values.
5. "Spinal surgeons should be aware of the possible psychological problems of AIS patients and should keep in mind that deformity correction not only improves physical health but also improves mental health," study authors concluded.