Original Research Quality of life in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: A cross-sectional comparison

Kathrin Güttinger, Cornelia Neuhaus, Ariane Schwank

About the author(s) Kathrin Güttinger, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland; Skoliopraxis, Winterthur, Switzerland; and Institute for Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kantonsspital Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland
Cornelia Neuhaus, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Therapy, University Children’s Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Ariane Schwank, Institute for Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kantonsspital Winterthur, Winterthur, Switzerland; and MOVANT Research Group, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Antwerp Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic scoliosis is a three-dimensional spinal curvature treated during adolescence with physiotherapy, braces or surgery. This can be stressful for patients. Few studies compare the quality of life of adolescents with and without scoliosis. Our study aims to investigate the quality of life of adolescents with and without scoliosis using the KIDSCREEN-27 questionnaire.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life of adolescents with scoliosis in comparison to adolescents without scoliosis.

Method: This comparative cross-sectional study included 60 participants who answered KIDSCREEN-27 accompanied by questions about age, sport intensity and their school category. Girls between the ages of 12 and 17 were included in the study. For each category of KIDSCREEN-27, the values were compared between participants with and without scoliosis.

Results: Statistical analysis was done using R Version 4.3.3. In none of the categories were the mean T-scores of adolescents with scoliosis significantly lower than those of the comparison group. In the scoliosis group, 33% (n = 10) showed values rated as ‘low’ quality of life in the category ‘physical well-being’. In the category ‘psychological well-being’, 36% (n = 11) showed ‘low’ values.

Conclusion: A general statement about the quality of life in adolescents with scoliosis cannot be made, but monitoring during treatment appears to be important. It is a complex construct that varies for each patient. KIDSCREEN-27 can quickly and easily identify low quality of life in patients with scoliosis.

Clinical implications: Physiotherapists play an important role in the scoliosis treatment team as they usually see the patients most often. Thus, early recognition of impaired quality of life is crucial to offer a targeted therapy plan.

Keywords

adolescents; scoliosis; quality of life; KIDSCREEN-27; mental health; physiotherapy

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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