Tweet
Going through some old posts, I came across this study abstract that was originally posted by Linda Racine. I'm curious if anything has come out since this was published that DISPUTES the CONCLUSION of this study. Many people on this board with untreated scoliosis are quite obviously suffering from more than just little physical impairment as this study suggests. I've also noticed that when I click on the name of a person who is celebrating a birthday who is in their 40s, 50s and beyond, a number of people indicate they are disabled which certainly contradicts what this study suggests.
Here's the abstract of a study that looked at patients who decided not to have surgery:
JAMA. 2003 Feb 5;289(5):559-67.
Health and function of patients with untreated idiopathic scoliosis: a 50-year natural history study.
Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Spratt KF, Peterson KK, Spoonamore MJ, Ponseti IV.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. stuart-weinstein@uiowa.edu
CONTEXT: Previous long-term studies of idiopathic scoliosis have included patients with other etiologies, leading to the erroneous conclusion that all types of idiopathic scoliosis inevitably end in disability. Late-onset idiopathic scoliosis (LIS) is a distinct entity with a unique natural history. OBJECTIVE: To present the outcomes related to health and function in untreated patients with LIS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Prospective natural history study performed at a midwestern university with outpatient evaluation of patients who presented between 1932 and 1948. At 50-year follow-up, which began in 1992, 117 untreated patients were compared with 62 age- and sex-matched volunteers. The patients' mean age was 66 years (range, 54-80 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, back pain, pulmonary symptoms, general function, depression, and body image. RESULTS: The estimated probability of survival was approximately 0.55 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.63) compared with 0.57 expected for the general population. There was no significant difference in the demographic characteristics of the 2 groups. Twenty-two (22%) of 98 patients complained of shortness of breath during everyday activities compared with 8 (15%) of 53 controls. An increased risk of shortness of breath was also associated with the combination of a Cobb angle greater than 80 degrees and a thoracic apex (adjusted odds ratio, 9.75; 95% CI, 1.15-82.98). Sixty-six (61%) of 109 patients reported chronic back pain compared with 22 (35%) of 62 controls (P =.003). However, of those with pain, 48 (68%) of 71 patients and 12 (71%) of 17 controls reported only little or moderate back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Untreated adults with LIS are productive and functional at a high level at 50-year follow-up. Untreated LIS causes little physical impairment other than back pain and cosmetic concerns.
PMID: 12578488 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Here's the abstract of a study that looked at patients who decided not to have surgery:
JAMA. 2003 Feb 5;289(5):559-67.
Health and function of patients with untreated idiopathic scoliosis: a 50-year natural history study.
Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Spratt KF, Peterson KK, Spoonamore MJ, Ponseti IV.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. stuart-weinstein@uiowa.edu
CONTEXT: Previous long-term studies of idiopathic scoliosis have included patients with other etiologies, leading to the erroneous conclusion that all types of idiopathic scoliosis inevitably end in disability. Late-onset idiopathic scoliosis (LIS) is a distinct entity with a unique natural history. OBJECTIVE: To present the outcomes related to health and function in untreated patients with LIS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Prospective natural history study performed at a midwestern university with outpatient evaluation of patients who presented between 1932 and 1948. At 50-year follow-up, which began in 1992, 117 untreated patients were compared with 62 age- and sex-matched volunteers. The patients' mean age was 66 years (range, 54-80 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, back pain, pulmonary symptoms, general function, depression, and body image. RESULTS: The estimated probability of survival was approximately 0.55 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-0.63) compared with 0.57 expected for the general population. There was no significant difference in the demographic characteristics of the 2 groups. Twenty-two (22%) of 98 patients complained of shortness of breath during everyday activities compared with 8 (15%) of 53 controls. An increased risk of shortness of breath was also associated with the combination of a Cobb angle greater than 80 degrees and a thoracic apex (adjusted odds ratio, 9.75; 95% CI, 1.15-82.98). Sixty-six (61%) of 109 patients reported chronic back pain compared with 22 (35%) of 62 controls (P =.003). However, of those with pain, 48 (68%) of 71 patients and 12 (71%) of 17 controls reported only little or moderate back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Untreated adults with LIS are productive and functional at a high level at 50-year follow-up. Untreated LIS causes little physical impairment other than back pain and cosmetic concerns.
PMID: 12578488 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Comment