Objective:
We aimed to evaluate whether there is a relation between the level of shoulder imbalance after scoliosis surgery and patients’ satisfaction with treatment.
Materials and methods:
Twenty-three patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (18 females, 5 males; mean age, 15.9 years; age range, 13-24 years), who were treated by posterior instrumentation and fusion and followed up for an average of 35.4 months (range, 24-67 months) postoperatively, were included in this retrospective clinical study. In order to evaluated shoulder balance on coronal plane, three parameters were measured on postoperative radiography: first rib angle, radiographical shoulder height, and clavicle angle. For the assessment of patients’ satisfaction with scoliosis surgery, Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22r Patient Questionnaire was used.
Results:
Fusion was obtained in all patients. On radiography, mean first rib angle was 2.5º±2.8º, shoulder height was 6.0±5.4 mm, and clavicle angle was 1.7º±1.5º. The mean values for SRS- 22r domain scores were between 3.3 and 3.8, being lowest for mental health and highest for pain and self-image. There was no significant correlation between radiographic parameters and total or domain scores of SRS-22r.
Conclusions:
Shoulder imbalance is a common undesirable effect of correcting thoracic curve in surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. However, unless it is severe, shoulder imbalance does not cause patient dissatisfaction.
Keywords: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis;,shoulder imbalance;,SRS-22r;,thoracic curve