Adult degenerative scoliosis treated by acupuncture

Abstract

Objective: This report of one case illustrates the potential effect of acupuncture on low back pain and curvature progression in adult degenerative scoliosis.

Clinical features: A 74-year-old woman experienced low back pain and kyphoscoliosis for 2 years. She received regular rehabilitation and medications for 2 years, but the curvature of the lumbar spine and backache still progressed. The Cobb angle was 31 degrees and surgical intervention was suggested to reduce the pain.

Intervention and outcome: Before surgery, the patient was treated with acupuncture three times per week starting on May 29, 2008. After 6 weeks of treatment, the patient's lower backache decreased and follow-up radiographs showed that the Cobb angle decreased by 10 degrees . She underwent surgery on October 3 to have a better quality of life.

Conclusions: Acupuncture was associated with a reduction in the degree of curvature in this case, after 2 years of conventional medical treatment had failed to stop the backache and curvature progression. This suggests that acupuncture not only plays an important role in pain control, but can also improve curvature progression for certain patients with degenerative scoliosis.