Scoliosis in adulthood-a case with untreated early onset scoliosis presenting at the age of 76 years.
Hans-Rudolf Weiss
PMID 28174478WHAT IT FOUND
A 76-year-old man with untreated early-onset scoliosis exceeding 100° maintained an active lifestyle despite severe lung restriction.
He reported shortness of breath but no other major health failures, demonstrating that surgery is not universally required for survival in such cases.
Key findings
01The patient had thoracic and lumbar curves of 111° and 118° respectively, yet remained active in endurance sports.
02Pulmonary function testing showed a forced vital capacity of 1.4 liters, which was 47% of the predicted value based on his current height.
03The patient's only complaints were shortness of breath and cosmetic concerns, with no history of brace treatment or surgery.
STILL TO COME
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, which provides very low certainty and cannot establish generalizable outcomes for patients with untreated early-onset scoliosis. The patient's experience may not represent the typical progression of untreated severe scoliosis, as other literature cited in the paper links untreated cases to severe health problems and mortality. The authors have a financial relationship with a company that produces braces, which may influence the interpretation of conservative treatment options. The paper discusses bracing and new technologies in the context of this case, but the patient himself never received these treatments, so the report does not demonstrate the efficacy of those specific interventions.
Declared interests
The author HR Weiss receives financial support from a company (Weiss) and has a relationship with a company (Weiss) that sells products related to the treatment discussed.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that severe untreated scoliosis is safe or that surgery is unnecessary based on this single case. The paper acknowledges that untreated early-onset scoliosis often leads to severe health problems and increased mortality, and this patient's outcome may be an exception rather than the rule.