Major Complications at Two Years After Surgery Impact SRS Scores for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients

Study Design Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Objective To determine whether adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with active complications at two-year follow-up demonstrate lower Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-22) questionnaire scores. Summary of Background Data There is limited evidence as to whether the SRS-22 is sensitive to complications in postoperative AIS patients. Methods Surgical patients with SRS-22 scores completed at two-year follow-up were included. Five groups were created: no complication, minor complication resolved by 2 years, major complication resolved by 2 years, minor complication active, and major complication active at 2 years. Likelihood of reaching a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for pain (0.20) and self-image (0.98) was evaluated. Results 1,481 patients were identified. Major complications active at two years existed in 2.2% of patients. These patients had the lowest score in all domains and total scores (p < .05). If a minor complication was active, scores were impacted for pain, self-image, satisfaction, and total (p < .05). No differences were found between no complication and resolved complications. Patients with active major complications were more likely to have a pain score that worsened from pre- to two years reaching MCID (52%) compared to the other four groups (range 18%–29%, odds ratio [OR] 3.6, p < .001). They also had a nonsignificant decreased rate of improvement of self-image score at an MCID level (42% vs. range 51%–66%, OR 0.56, p = .10). Conclusions When timing is considered, the SRS-22 demonstrates the ability to discriminate between patients with and without a complication. Active experience of a major complication impacted SRS-22 scores, in particular, the rate of worsening scores for pain, self-image, function, and total score. Level of Evidence Level III.