The Physical and Mental Health in the Conservative Treatment of the Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract

Introduction Idiopathic scoliosis may lead to physical and psychosocial impairment as it mostly appears before and/or during puberty. Both ability of young patients to confront the stress of a chronic disease and self esteem, affect their psychosomatic development and their future quality of life. Purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate health associated quality of life in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Material and Methods In this study the physical and mental health of 69 young patients with idiopathic scoliosis was compared with a control group of the same age. The patients were treated with a Cheneau brace because of Idiopathic scoliosis with Cobb angles between 15°and 40°. We used a modified short form 36 questionnaire. We evaluated the eight sections of the SF-36 questionnaire in both groups (vitality, physical functioning, bodily pain, general health perceptions, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, social role functioning, mental health). The statistical analysis was performed with the Sigma Plot software. Results In comparison to the coeval control group (mean age 17,9 years) the group with idiopathic scoliosis (mean age 18,1 years) showed significant higher bodily pain levels. We did not observe any significant differences between the two groups in the sections of vitality, physical functioning, general health perceptions, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, social role functioning and mental health. Conclusion According to our results, bodily pain is more intense by conservative treated patients with idiopathic scoliosis as in the control group. Nevertheless, psychological and psychosocial adjustment of these patients is the same as their contemporaries without significant differences.