Researchers from Tokyo Shinjuku Medical Center and Nagoya-based Meijo Hospital in Japan compared disc degeneration occurrence for patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent surgery against those who didn't at 10-years follow-up.
The study included female patients with scoliosis, categorized as follows:
• Surgical group: postoperative 10-year patients with severe scoliosis prior to surgery
• Mild scoliosis group: similar scoliosis to postoperative patients of the same age at 10 years follow-up
• Severe scoliosis group: no corrective surgery
Spine published the study.
Here are five insights:
1. Within the surgical group, 62.7 percent experienced disc degeneration with the highest rate at L5/S, according to MRI findings.
2. Of the mild scoliosis group, 47.7 percent of the patients had disc degeneration, with high rates at L4/5 and L5/S.
3. The severe scoliosis group saw 81.8 percent experiencing disc degeneration, with the highest rates at L3/5 and L4/5.
4. Additionally, the severe scoliosis group saw higher rates of low back pain compared to the surgical group.
5. Researchers concluded corrective surgery can decrease disc degeneration occurrence.