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Most athletes with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis return to same level of sport after surgery

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SAN FRANCISCO — The majority of athletes with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis return to preoperative levels of athletic activity after surgery, although they tend to play fewer hours per week, according to data presented here.

“The physical potential is affected by the levels fused, as well as lower instrument of the vertebra,” Yuan Ren, PhD, MSc, said at the North American Spine Society Annual Meeting. “Patients can be encouraged to return to competitive sport 3 months to 6 months after surgery.”

In a retrospective study to determine patients’ return to sports, Ren and colleagues administered questionnaires at the 1-year postoperative visit to 38 consecutive patients who had surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Patient ages ranged from 10 years to 21 years, with an average age at surgery of 14.2 years. Median Cobb angle was 50.9°, and patients had an average of 9.5 levels fused.

Yuan Ren

The researchers found 95% of patients returned to sport after surgery for AIS. Swimming, dancing and running/jogging were the most commonly played sports after surgery. The median time to return to training was 3 to 6 months after surgery.

Overall, 29 patients were able to return to the same or a higher level of sport, whereas nine patients had reduced intensity of sport level. Ten patients changed to less rigorous sports. Full return to sports occurred at a median of 6 months to 12 months after surgery, according to Ren.

The number of hours per week the patients participated in sporting activity was reduced from 6 to 10 hours before surgery to 2 to 6 hours after surgery. Activity level was influenced by the number of levels fused.

Ren said there was no change in the self-reported physical potential of playing the sports after surgery. — by Kristine Houck, MA, ELS

Reference:

Ren Y. Paper #96. Presented at: North American Spine Society Annual Meeting. Nov. 12-15, 2014; San Francisco.

Disclosure: Ren has no relevant financial disclosures.