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Low back pain after spinal fusion and Harrington instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis

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Abstract

We reviewed 41 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with spinal fusion and Harrington instrumentation between 1973 and 1992. The mean follow-up was 23 (11–30) years. All patients completed self-administered questionnaires, Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Score (ODS), Roland Morris score (RLS), and Visual Analog Pain Intensity Scale (VAS). We found a high degree of satisfaction with more than three quarters of the patients in work. The outcome of ODS, RLS, and VAS showed low scores. We found a significant correlation between the scores and the Cobb angle preoperatively as well as at follow-up. The patient-oriented outcome did not correlate with the type of curve, extension of vertebral fusion, tilt angle of the lowest instrumented vertebra, postoperative Cobb angle, loss of correction, or lumbar lordosis. This long-term follow-up of Harrington rod fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis showed no important impairment of health-related quality of life.

Résumé

Nous avons examiné 41 patients avec une scoliose idiopathique de l’adolescence traitée par fusion vertébrale et instrumentation de Harrington entre 1973 et 1992. La moyenne de suivi était de 23 ans (11–30). Tous les malades ont complété des questionnaires auto-administrés (Oswestry Score, Roland Morris Score et la cotation visuelle moyenne pour la douleur). Nous avons trouvé un haut degré de satisfaction avec plus de 3/4 des malades exerçant un travail. Les résultats des questionnaires ont montré des scores faibles. Nous avons trouvé une corrélation significative entre les scores et les angles de Cobb préopératoire aussi bien que postopératoire. Le résultat n’est pas en relation avec le type de courbe, l’extension de la fusion vertébrale, l’angle d’inclinaison de la plus basse vertèbre instrumentée, l’angle de Cobb postopératoire, la perte de correction ou la lordose lombaire. Ce suivi à long terme de la fusion rachidienne selon Harrington pour scoliose idiopathique de l’adolescent n’a montré aucune diminution importante de la qualité de vie des patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spine Service, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tubingen, Germany

    Thomas Niemeyer, Albert Schulze Bövingloh, Sarah Grieb & Torsten Kluba

  2. Department of Radiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tubingen, Germany

    Jürgen Schaefer

  3. Centre for Spinal Surgery and Scoliosis, Klinikum Neustadt, Neustadt, Germany

    Henry Halm

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  1. Thomas Niemeyer
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  2. Albert Schulze Bövingloh
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  3. Sarah Grieb
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  4. Jürgen Schaefer
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  5. Henry Halm
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  6. Torsten Kluba
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Correspondence to Thomas Niemeyer.

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Niemeyer, T., Bövingloh, A.S., Grieb, S. et al. Low back pain after spinal fusion and Harrington instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 29, 47–50 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-004-0599-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-004-0599-1

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