2026 Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages 65-69
Introduction: We examined the pre- and postoperative pain in 172 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (lenke 5, 6) who were operated at our hospital.
Methods: The subjects were 179 patients who underwent surgery at our hospital since 2008. The average age at the time of surgery was 15.8 years (11-22 years), and the average preoperative Cobb angle was 51.8° (33-87°). Preoperative pain, sex, age at surgery, age at last observation, preoperative Cobb angle, and SRS pain domain were investigated.
Results: Of the 99 out of 179 cases in which preoperative pain was noted in the medical record, SRS, or ODI, the average SRS pain domain in 71 cases confirmed by SRS or ODI was 4.3 and ODI was 4.4. Complaints of pain could not be confirmed in 49 of 71 patients, with an average SRS pain domain of 4.4 and ODI of 4.5. Gender, age at surgery, and imaging parameters did not correlate with the presence or absence of preoperative pain. Of the 163 patients who were followed up for at least 2 years postoperatively, 125 patients had pain in SRS and ODI 2 years after surgery (SRS pain domain average 4.4, ODI 3.9), and pain was recognized at the final follow-up in 114 patients (SRS pain domain mean 4.4, ODI 4.8). Of the 88 of 163 patients who had preoperative pain, 18 (20.4%) had worsened postoperative pain, and improved after surgery. On the other hand, of the 75 patients who had no pain before surgery, 53 developed new pain after surgery (SRS pain domain mean 4.4, ODI 4.7). No correlation was found between correction rate, fusion range, and number of fused intervertebral discs in relation to the onset and changes in pain.
Conclusions: 55.3% Lenke 5 and 6 patients had preoperative pain. However, only 49 out of 179 patients reported pain to their doctors, suggesting that SRS30 and ODI may have overestimated pain. More detailed studies are required, such as confirmation of the pain site, comparison with healthy subjects of the same age, and mental state.
