Examining the impact of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis on psychosocial well-being and physical function: revealing insights from patient-reported outcomes.

Purpose: Using patient-reported questionnaires (PROs), the impact of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) on psychosocial well-being domains of Self-Image, Self-Esteem, Mental Health and Peer Relationships, and the interplay between these domains, physical function and clinical measures was investigated.

Methods: 95 patients from a convenience cohort with AIS completed questionnaires (SRS-22r, SAQ, PODCI, PROMIS, and Harter's Self-Perception Profile), and clinical data were collected. PRO scores analyses included descriptive statistics, unpaired t-test comparing typical peers and correlations. Scores on PRO domains for the lowest interquartile groups (LowIQR) were compared with the Remaining Cohorts (RC) using t tests, and differences were evaluated using Cohen's d statistic.

Results: The entire study cohort reported psychosocial well-being similar to their AIS and typical peers. Scores on PsychoSocial Self-Image measures and PODCI Happiness, a mental health domain, and physical function measures of PODCI Transfer&Mobility and Sports&Physical Function were worse than typical population. Curve severity and clinical measures were not linked to PRO scores. For LowIQR patients, scores were statistically worse than the RCs in many domains with effect sizes indicating clinically noticeable differences. Patients in LowIQRgroups reported scores below typical peers on Mental Health, Self-Esteem and global self-image measures, while RC did not.

Conclusions: This research enhances the clinical utility of PROs for assessing psychosocial well-being in patients with AIS by establishing thresholds for identification of patients reporting scores worse than their AIS peers. Interventions targeting psychosocial well-being may help mitigate the potential negative impact of scoliosis on adolescents.