Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Progression of Untreated Cases

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate angular progression of patients with a diagnosis of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), that await surgical treatment. Methods: This is an observational and descriptive study. Data were collected for age at initial surgical indication, initial date and Cobb angle, date and Cobb angle of the follow-up visit, time elapsed between the initial and follow-up visit, and type of curve. All recorded Cobb angles were reviewed by the authors. Results: 86.1% of the individuals were women, the mean age of indication for surgical treatment was 13.34 years. The most common type of curve was Lenke 3 and the one that progressed the most was Lenke 4. The general average of annual progression was 9.89 degrees for the primary curves and 12.32 for the secondary curves, and the follow-up was, on average, 35.77 months. Conclusion: The progression of the magnitude of the curve increases during the wait for the definitive treatment of AIS, no matter which group of the Lenke classification the curve belongs to. The secondary curves present a progression rate of 12.32º/year, higher than the main curve, which presents a rate of 9.89º/year. The waiting time has been increasing over the years, which is evident compared to older publications. Level of Evidence IV; Type of Study: Prognostic Study.