Pubertal Stage-Dependent Anthropometric Variations in Turkish Children with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: An In-Depth Analysis

Abstract

Background Identifying predictive factors for anthropometric changes during puberty in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is critical for prognosis and management. This study aimed to discern these factors in the Turkish AIS population, by analyzing variations against female breast development stages and male testicular volume, benchmarked against national standards. Material/Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2018 and 2022, involving children aged 10 to 18 years from the Orthopedics and Pediatrics Clinics. AIS patients and controls were assessed concerning pubertal status (Tanner stage), chronological age, skeletal maturation (Tanner-Whitehouse), and anthropometric parameters (height, weight, and body mass index). Results AIS patients were compared to controls, stratified by pubertal stages. In girls across all stages, significant differences emerged in bone age, BMI, and weight between AIS and controls ( p <0.01). In boys, AIS patients significantly differed in bone age from controls across all stages ( p <0.001). At stage V, controls demonstrated higher BMI than AIS boys ( p <0.001), while at stage I, AIS boys had significantly higher height and weight compared to controls ( p <0.001). Conclusions AIS patients demonstrate distinctive pubertal growth abnormalities, with males and females presenting divergent patterns. Understanding these variations could inform better management of AIS during the critical pubertal growth period.

On growth and scoliosis

“…The later onset of growth in girls with severe AIS may be related to a significantly later menarche (5.9 months compared to controls) that was also observed [6]. That late menarche correlates with AIS has also been reported by others [28][29][30], but how this leads to a mechanical deformation remains as yet unexplained.…”