Rehabilitation for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Posterior Spinal Fusion
Rehab for AIS PSF
What is the goal of the study?
Severe scoliosis in adolescents can lead to pulmonary dysfunction, spinal degeneration, and pain in adulthood. Spinal fusion through a posterior approach remains the standard treatment but can result in a prolonged recovery process in patients. Historically, patients were medically limited to ensure adequate time for healing and spinal fusion to occur. There is no consensus or a comprehensive perioperative functional assessment to guide the expected timing and safe return to pre-surgical activities. Current spinal instrumentation techniques are stronger, and biomechanically allow for return to activity earlier but concern for patient endurance, flexibility, and strength lead to variable rates of return to baseline activity following scoliosis surgery. Aim one of this study is to determine the changes in truncal flexibility, endurance, strength, and physical function at different time points following scoliosis surgery. Aim two will be to develop a post-surgical rehabilitation program. This program will then be administered to patients following surgical treatment and compared to patients in aim one. In addition to discreet measures of flexibility, endurance and strength, patient reported outcomes tools will be used to determine if this program enhances patients’ recovery and returns patients to their baseline activity more rapidly.
Who can participate in the study?
Please contact the study team listed below to learn more.