Back pain in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS)

Current knowledge on the association between back pain and idiopathic scoliosis is often contracdictory. The presence, localisation and importance of back pain was evaluated for a cohort of 426 adolescentss with A.I.S. Patients were recuited from a scoliosis clinic in a pediatric hospital. A questionnaire and an analogue scale graduated from 0 (no pain) to 100 (maximium pain) were used in order to verify more precisely, the importance of association between A.I.S. and back pain. Chi-square, linear regression and Student T-test were used for statistical analysis. 239 patients with right thoracic and left lumbar curves (RTLL) had a prevalence of pain of 54%. The mean of maximum pain intensity was 49 mm+/- 20. No relation was found between the severity of the scoliosis and back pain. The two groups (with and without pain) were comparable. Cobb angles were about the same for the thoracic and the lumbar regions, as well as kyphosis and lordosis. Weight, height and age were also the same. Risser sign, sex, brace and pelvic tilt were the only variables associated with pain (p < 0.0001). Association between A.I.S and pain is more frequent than generally reported. Pain appears to be more related with pelvic tilt than severity of the scoliosis.