Study design: A total of 215 consecutive patients treated either by bracing or operation received a questionnaire after 9.7 years.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to elucidate the long-term outcome in a group of brace (BT) or surgical treated (ST) patients suffering AIS.
Summary of background data: In adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), the options are BT or ST and, together with the disease itself, they may both be physically and psychologically demanding.
Methods: The main topics of a questionnaire were demographics, back pain, activities of daily living, and SF-36.
Results: A total of 181 replied. The mean age at follow-up was 26.0 years. The level of back or leg pain was relatively low, and the BT patients had more pain than their ST peers. We saw a generally high level of ADL and found no significant difference between BT and ST patients in the present study for any of the SF-36 variables. Compared with age-matched controls, the SF-36 scores were lower in the AIS patients. Brace related questions revealed a significant impact of the disease and the treatment on the patients' lives.
Conclusions: The patients had moderately reduced perceived health status and activities of daily living, and increased pain with the ST patients generally at a better level than the BT.