Reversal of childhood idiopathic scoliosis in an adult, without surgery: a case report and literature review

Respiratory function within populations of patients with thoracic scoliosis, in general, is inversely correlated with curvature magnitude, with increasing impairment as Cobb angle increases [1‐6]. However, substantial variation occurs among individual patients. At one extreme, cardiopulmonary disease secondary to idiopathic scoliosis (IS) has been reported to cause sudden death in young adults with 60- to 70-degree curves [7, 8]. Other patients with similar curves may exhibit normal pulmonary function (PF) [5, 9‐12]. PF in patients with mild or moderate curves (<60 degrees) can range from normal to significantly impaired [5, 11‐22]. Thoracic kyphosis, normally ranging between 25-50 degrees, is reduced in some individuals ("hypo-kyphosis"), and this sagittal plane deformity together with reduced flexibility of the spine and thoracic cage may exacerbate pulmonary dysfunction [1, 10, 14, 23‐25]. Pectus excavatum, a depression of the sternum, is present in many scoliosis patients, and this condition by itself can contribute to PF deficiencies [26‐28].

Even in patients without measurable impairment of VC in basal static conditions, reduced PF is often revealed during exercise tests [19, 29‐32]. A significant negative correlation has been shown between exercise capacity and Cobb angle from 10 degrees to 70 degrees in adolescent IS (AIS) patients [2]. Exercise capacity among a group of AIS patients with an average curve of 32.8 degrees and VC within normal limits was significantly reduced in comparison with a control group of subjects without spinal deformities [30]. The long-term impact of these impairments in scoliosis patients has not been examined, to date. However, in the general population, reduced VC and reduced exercise capacity are independent predictors of increased mortality [33‐36]. Among 6213 men followed for 6.2 years, peak exercise capacity was a stronger predictor of early death than hypertension, smoking, and diabetes [36].

Impaired chest expansion resulting from chest wall deformity, rather than lack of physical activity or altered muscle tone, is thought to underlie reduced PF among patients with IS [1, 37‐42]. Evidence in support of this hypothesis includes the observation that PF defects characteristic of thoracic scoliosis can be induced in normal patients by immobilizing chest cage function with tape or corsets [43, 44]. Conversely, PF improves in response to mobilization exercises designed to increase chest expansion [45]. Yet little information regarding long-term effects of impaired chest expansion in scoliosis patients is available. Among 195 AIS patients, evaluated at an average age of 42 years, chest expansion of <3.8 cm was found to be correlated with significantly reduced VC, recurrent respiratory infection, and shortness of breath [46]. Among a subset of this population of AIS patients evaluated after age >54 years (n = 57), 58% had chest expansion reduced to <2 cm, but PF was not measured [47]. However, in a separate study, among subjects in the general population (n = 48) evaluated at >54 years of age, only 15% had chest expansion reduced to <2 cm [48].

Patients with moderate to severe scoliosis diagnosed before puberty and present at skeletal maturity are at risk of curvature progression throughout life [46, 49‐52]. As a result of this increasing curvature, together with the normal effects of aging, women with scoliosis experience progressive loss in height beginning in early adulthood [53, 54].

A previous study documented increased chest excursion and resolution of long-standing pulmonary symptoms in the subject of this case report [55]. The current report documents that, from ages 40-53 years, height increased by 2 cm, thoracic hypokyphosis improved, and the Cobb magnitude of the patient's longstanding thoracic curve was reduced. A preliminary report was presented at the May 2002 meeting of the International Research Society for Spinal Deformity in Athens, Greece [56].

The patient (MCH) is a female born 9/17/1952, the third of five children. Prenatal bleeding developed in the first trimester, and delivery (at full term) was breech and complicated by anoxia. Early development was normal, but a right inguinal herniorrhaphy was performed on 1/3/1959. By age 6.5 years an asymmetric posture [57] was apparent in casual photographs (Figure 1A). After puberty a marked torso deformity was evident (Figure 1B). From childhood through 1992 (age 40 years), symptoms included dyspnea at rest, increasing in severity and associated with nausea upon mild exertion or at high altitude. Recurrent respiratory infections with fever and deep chest cough (3-5 episodes per year, each lasting 3-10 weeks) also were present. The patient lived in a rural area, never suffered from asthma, never smoked, and avoided proximity to smokers due to sensitivity to secondhand smoke. No seasonal allergies were present during childhood and early adulthood. No pulmonary function tests were prescribed by treating physicians during this period. During childhood daily activities included participation in marching band, swimming, horseback riding and other farm chores but recurrent vertigo precluded gymnastics and other formal sports.

At age 11.7 years (pre-menarche), the patient was seen by her pediatrician in response to obvious torso deformity identified by an older sibling while horseback riding. There was no family history of scoliosis or other spinal deformities. Referral was made to an orthopedic surgeon (J. Stiles, Owensboro Daviess County Hospital, Owensboro KY, USA). The diagnosis was IS with a right thoracic Cobb angle of 45 degrees. A compensatory lumbar curve, thoracic hypo-kyphosis, and pectus excavatum were also present. Immediate spinal fusion surgery was strongly recommended but declined. Exercises taught during a 6-week period of outpatient training by a hospital resident physical therapist were prescribed as an alternative to surgery (Table 1). This program was essentially as outlined in Ponseti and Friedman [58] who described a regime of conservative treatment used in the long-term 'natural history' [46, 47] study of 444 patients carried out at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA, United States). The authors stated that "a great number of patients in this series received conservative treatment consisting of exercises designed to increase muscle strength and to correct postural imbalance. Tightness of the abdominal muscles at the side of the overhang was corrected by passive and active stretching. The patients were taught to shift their thorax into proper alignment with the pelvis" ([58], p. 381).

These exercises, in the current case, included sit-ups, side-to-side toe-touches, push-ups, 'bicycle' leg lifts, and straight leg raises (15-20 reps daily), plus side-bending and stretching in combination. Four recommended exercises were discontinued: (1) Hanging by the arms from a bar triggered immediate pain in the right inguinal region (where scar tissue from herniorrhaphy was present) and lower back, with loss of sensation in the right foot; (2) a posture exercise in which the back was flattened repeatedly against a wall triggered neck pain; (3) assisted neck stretches, which required the patient to bend her head to the side facilitated by a partner (parent), also were discontinued due to increased pain; (4) back bends from a prone position were discontinued when the supervising physical therapist noticed exacerbation of the torso asymmetry within 2-3 weeks of daily replication. The other exercises were included in a 30-40 minute regime carried out daily from 1964-1974. In 1974, in response to increased dyspnea while living at high altitude, a 30-40 min aerobic exercise routine was added to the daily routine and maintained through 1992. Depending on circumstances, this included a daily 10-mile round-trip hike to work, a 16-mile round trip bicycle ride to work, or a 2-mile jog at a local track. Yoga headstands and kicks also were added. Dyspnea persisted as a symptom despite these activities.

Deep tissue whole body massage was carried out monthly from June-December 1991 by a licensed massage therapist (C. Kotch, Tucson AZ, USA) in response to neck pain; fourteen additional sessions were carried out from December 1992-February 1996. The primary focus of treatment was mobilization of the right psoas, adhesions surrounding right inguinal scar tissue, chest wall rigidity and limited cervical spine range of motion. In February 1992 outpatient individual psychological therapy was initiated in response to psychological decompensation concurrent with intense multi-regional pain [55]. Daily strengthening and aerobic exercises were discontinued at this time and replaced with torso, abdominal and chest wall mobilization and respiratory exercises including 'loud vocalization' [59]. In April 1992 a noticeable improvement in torso appearance developed suddenly, manifested by spontaneous decrease in forward rotation of the right shoulder (Figure 1). This occurred in correlation with increased ability to turn the head to the side, decreased discomfort and a sensation of improved breathing.

In February 1993 the patient (MCH) initiated a collaboration with the first author (WJB, Faculty of Medicine, University of Arizona), for a study designed to evaluate and document any changes in signs and symptoms (e.g. respiratory function, chest wall morphology and excursion, Cobb angle). In addition, intervention in the form of comprehensive manipulative medicine (CMM) was carried out four times during 1994-1995 and on seven occasions during 1999-2000 [55, 60]. This approach to the use of manipulative techniques significantly differs diagnostically from methods that employ spinal mis-alignment, postural imbalance, asymmetrical active range of motion, and/or asymmetrical passive range of motion as sufficient markers of musculoskeletal dysfunction [e.g. [61]]. CMM refers to the use of a broad spectrum of (in this case, direct action) manipulative medicine techniques employed for the purpose of restoring optimal available motion to the entire musculoskeletal system, including the cranium, as described [55, 60]. A daily 40- to 60-min home mobilization exercise program (1993-2005) included sustained pressure applied to painful muscle spasms, isometric chest stretches (palms pressed together while expanding the rib cage), and manual traction using a home gym [56]. Incentive spirometry was added in 2001. Aerobic and strengthening exercise (sit-ups, abdominal crunches, bicycle, hiking, jogging, side kicks, weight lifting, etc) was re-incorporated into the daily regime in 2001. Body weight was stable at 62 ± 3 kg.

The negative impact of thoracic spinal deformity on respiratory function was recognized and described in ancient times by Hippocrates [1, 59]. Current studies among children and adults with thoracic scoliosis whose Cobb angle ranged from 30-80 degrees have revealed measurable pulmonary deficits manifested as impaired vital capacity, reduced exercise capacity, cardiac hypertrophy and symptoms including dyspnea and recurrent respiratory infections [1‐25, 29‐42, 46]. Yet in recent years some spine surgeons have argued that, with the exception of cases diagnosed before the age of five years and with a Cobb angle of >100 degrees, IS patients suffer from 'no functional limitations' and that, moreover, the improvement of 'appearance and deformity with all its social and psychological deprivation is the only indication for treatment' [71]. The stated goal of such treatment is 'to restore acceptability and help mitigate future social and psychological disadvantage' [72], not to restore or maintain health and function. Even routine PF testing for scoliosis patients prior to surgery is described as 'controversial' [73]. As long ago as 1964, however, Mankin and coauthors [21] noted, "Most physicians think that IS is a 'cosmetic' problem and that its major effect is to deform an individual with no harm to the internal organs. It is apparent from this study that appreciable pulmonary deficits do occur but are easily detected by simple spirometry." Chest cage rigidity, which may contribute to PF deficits in scoliosis patients, increases with age, could in part account for the observation that respiratory failure can occur in adult IS patients even when there is no progression of the curvature [74, 75]. The possibility that undiagnosed PF deficits contribute to psychological distress found to be prevalent among juvenile, adolescent, and adult IS patients, remains unexplored [76‐80].

In patients who undergo spinal fusion surgery, VC does not improve in correlation with improved Cobb angle [1, 9‐12], and among surgery followup studies published since 1941 the impact of spinal fusion on chest excursion has never been included as an outcome measure [81]. By contrast, significantly improved VC and increased chest expansion occurred in several hundred scoliosis patients within four weeks in response to an inpatient physiotherapeutic approach [45, 82]. This approach now has been adapted successfully for outpatient treatment strategies [83, 84]. Recent clinical studies reveal success in reducing pain and improving Cobb angle with exercise, manipulation, and other nonsurgical approaches in patients, including adults [85‐90]. Rapid improvement of pectus excavatum severity in an adult, in correlation with individualized physical therapy, also has been documented [91]. The results from these studies, together with the current case report, indicate that despite popular beliefs [71] a reduction in clinical signs and symptoms of scoliosis that impair quality of life and function can be achieved in response to specific physical interventions. Investigations of non operative methods in the treatment of adult scoliosis are warranted [92‐98]. Based on the known biological and biomechanical processes associated with progression of scoliosis, application of such methods can be predicted to be most effective in halting or reversing lateral and torsional deformity of the spine when employed early in the disease process [99, 100]. School screening programs have been found to be an effective method to detect and diagnose scoliosis in its earlier stages, and can play a key role in such research [101].

Stable improvement in chest wall symmetry and resolution of long-standing respiratory symptoms in an adult with pectus excavatum, thoracic scoliosis and hypokyphosis, has not previously been reported. Improvement in magnitude of Cobb angle occurred in parallel with the observed changes in function.

Informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.