The Effects of Conservative Treatment on Geometric Morphology of the Spine and Thoracic Cage in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A 1-Year Follow-up

ABSTRACT Introduction The thoracic cage has a direct relation with the spine and thereby scoliosis affects spinal morphology. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of a 1-year conservative treatment on the geometric morphology of the spine and thoracic cage in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods Thirty-six patients with AIS were assessed retrospectively for the initiation of conservative treatment and at 1-year follow-up. Patients were divided into two groups based on the intervention method: exercises-only group (ExG) and brace plus exercises group (BrG). The posteroanterior and lateral radiograph of each patient were measured in terms of spinal morphology including coronal, sagittal, transverse spinal, and thoracic cage parameters. Besides, the success rate of the conservative treatment was recorded by the sum of the stabilization and correction of each patient. Results No significant difference was found in the thoracic dimensions, thoracic geometry, and coronal and transverse plane parameters in ExG group ( P > 0.05). The spine height increased ( P = 0.006), whereas other parameters did not change ( P > 0.05) in BrG. Lumbar lordosis decreased in ExG group ( P = 0.025). The total success rate of the conservative treatment in AIS patients was 75%. The success rate of ExG and BrG was 68.4% and 82.4%, respectively. Conclusions The conservative treatment including both bracing and exercise seems to provide an additional elongation over the spine height without causing a negative effect in the spine and thoracic cage geometry in AIS. Clinical Relevance Bracing and exercise treatment do not have a negative impact on thoracic cage geometry in AIS.