The Incidence of Low-Back Pain in Adult Scoliosis

To date no knowledge of the incidence of scoliosis in adults and its relationship to low-back pain is available. In order to arrive at an understanding of low-back pain in adult scoliosis, a study of 5000 intravenous pyelograms was performed. The incidence of lumbar and thoracolumbar curves was 2.9%. One hundred and fifty-nine of the 189 patients found to have scoliosis were contacted. The incidence of back pain was 59% (similar to that in the general population). Back pain was subdivided into mild (44%), moderate (49%), or severe (7%). The curve was subdivided into three categories: 10-24°, 25-44°, and 45+°. Of the 82 idiopathic curves with pain, 64 were in group 1, 15 in group 2, and 3 in group 3. Forty-three percent had mild pain, 50% had moderate pain, and 7% had severe pain. As the degree of curvature increased, the severity of pain increased, especially for curves of more than 45°. Patients without back pain tended to have smaller curves. The presence of facet sclerosis correlated with a history of pain in 64%. There was a high correlation between radiologic changes at the curve apex and pain. Age bore no relationship to the incidence of pain.