Back pain in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: the contribution of morphological and psychological factors

To define the relationship between 3D radiological features, psychological factors, and back pain prevalence and intensity in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Consecutive AIS patients answered self-reported questionnaires and underwent simultaneous posterior–anterior and lateral scans of the spine (EOS Imaging, Paris, France). 3D reconstructions of the spine and pelvis reported 18 parameters in the coronal, sagittal, and axial plane.

Hundred and twenty-four patients with AIS were included in the study. Overall, 90% of AIS patients reported having some back pain over the last 6 months and 85.8% over the last 30 days. Pain intensity in the last month was reported to be mild in 37.5%, moderate in 31.8%, moderate to severe in 24.3%, and severe in 6.54% of cases. Location of back pain was associated with location of main curve (P = 0.036). Low back pain was associated with higher lumbar apical AVR and lower lumbar lordosis (P < 0.05). Independent risk factors for back pain in AIS were pain catastrophizing (B = 0.061, P = 0.035), poorer self-reported state of mental health (B = − 0.872, P = 0.023), decreased thoracic kyphosis (B = − 0.033, P = 0.044) and greater pelvic asymmetry (B = 0.146, P = 0.047). There was a significant association between self-reported pain intensity in the last 24 h and levels of catastrophizing. Pain catastrophizing level influenced the relationship between deformity severity and pain intensity. In low catastrophizers, there was a significant association between greater deformity severity and higher pain levels.

Back pain in AIS is multifactorial and associated with psychological and morphological parameters. Pain catastrophizing is an important construct in AIS-related pain and should be taken into consideration when evaluating these patients.