Pain and Radiographic Changes in Adult Scoliosis Patients Using a Scoliosis Activity Suit: Case-Controlled 10-Year Follow-Up Results

Abstract

Scoliosis in adult patients is known to increase across the lifespan and increases the chance of chronic pain in later adulthood. Non-surgical scoliosis treatment options for adults are not widely recommended, largely due to lack of research in this area. Pain management options for adults are focused primarily on treating scoliosis-related pain, and not necessarily the scoliosis itself, such as epidural injections, prescription pain medications, and general physical therapy. Recent studies reporting non-surgical, scoliosis-specific treatment methods in adults are encouraging, but their study designs limit extrapolation. The current study reports the self-reported pain and radiographic outcomes in adult patients wearing a scoliosis activity suit for at least 10 years. A total of 22 patient charts that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected for review. Cobb angle radiographic measurements and self-rated quadruple numerical pain rating scale (QVAS) at baseline and 10-year follow-up were used as the outcomes. Cobb angle measurements were compared at baseline and 10 years and subdivided according to scoliosis curve pattern. At 10 years, 68% of patients had improvements in their Cobb angle > 5˚, with an overall average of approximately 9˚. Significant differences were also observed in the 10-year Cobb angle measurements when compared to the predicted 10-year Cobb angles based on the established rate of linear progression in adults. A statistically significant change was also observed in the 10-year QVAS scores. These results suggest a potential role of the scoliosis activity suit for improving Cobb angles in adults and reducing scoliosis-related pain.