Scoliosis surgery: correction not correlated with instrumentation, quality of life not correlated with correction or instrumentation
Sobottke, R.; Siewe, J.; Hokema, J.; Schlegel, U.; Zweig, T.; Eysel, P.
Acta Orthopaedica Belgica 76(4): 536-542
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6462 PMID: 20973362 Document Number: 642908
The authors conducted a retrospective study on 24 consecutive adolescent scoliosis patients, 11 of whom were instrumented with hooks and 13 with hooks and screws (hybrid technique). The mean preoperative Cobb angle was 62.2 degrees (range: 48 degrees-96 degrees). The mean correction of the primary curve was 56.6% at followup after +/- 1.18 years ; there was no statistically significant difference between groups. Special attention was given to the postoperative quality of life (QOL) by means of the following scores: COMI patient self-assessment, SF-36, ODI, and VAS. Again, there was no statistical difference between groups but, interestingly, there was no correlation between QOL and degree of correction, after a follow-up period of +/- 2.1 years. Nevertheless, on the COMI patient self-assessment, there was a high level of satisfaction with treatment. Further studies should concentrate on how to achieve a high QOL, and abandon the best possible correction as a primary endpoint of success.