Study design: Data collected prospectively from the Prospective Pediatric Scoliosis Study (PPSS) were analyzed statistically to address the hypothesis that covered specific aspects of treatment and its outcome.
Objective: To assess and contrast Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) outcome scores for patients assigned to one of three types of spinal instrumentation constructs. The study hypothesis was that the instrumentation strategy that provides the best curve correction will be associated with the best SRS scores.
Summary of background data: Surgical treatment of scoliosis has evolved over time using implants and surgical techniques; however, quality of life indicators have not typically been analyzed to assess whether surgery and instrumentation will improve quality of life in pediatric patients.
Methods: Patients were assigned to one of three instrumentation groups depending on the type of construct used. The Scoliosis Research Society's SRS-30 survey was used to measure patient outcomes comparing preoperative results to a 2-year follow-up.
Results: Changes in the SRS Pain, Activity, Appearance, Mental, Satisfaction, and SRS Total domains did not differ significantly among instrumentation groups for any time intervals. However, analysis of SRS Pain did show a significant change over time for all instrumentation patterns. The analysis of SRS Activity showed a significant change over time for all instrumentation patterns preoperatively to 2 years postoperatively. Analysis of SRS Appearance showed a significant change over time for all groups but no difference between instrumentation groups. The analysis of SRS Mental based on instrumentation types showed a significant change over time, but only the pedicle screw group's change was statistically significant. Finally, analysis of SRS Satisfaction by instrumentation type showed a statistically significant change over time for all instrumentation patterns.
Conclusion: There were no statistically significant baseline differences among the three instrumentation construct groups based on mean scores for the six SRS domains. None of the SRS domains had differences among the instrumentation constructs in change scores or significant differences among the instrumentation constructs.