Health-Related Quality of Life Assessment in Idiopathic Early-Onset Scoliosis Treated by Serial Mehta Casting

This was a retrospective clinical study of patients with idiopathic early-onset scoliosis (IEOS) treated by serial Mehta derotational cast in a single facility.

A standardized casting protocol was used for patients aged ≤5 years with IEOS (curve ≥20°). Patients' demographics, clinical and radiological outcomes, and major curve Cobb angle were recorded, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the 24-item early-onset scoliosis questionnaire (EOSQ-24) was assessed.

A total of 15 patients with IEOS were managed by serial Mehta cast between October 2014 and September 2018 with a mean follow-up period of 42.33 ± 6.37 (range 32-55) months. The mean precast curve was 56.8° ± 12.01°, and the mean final postcast curve was 26.4° ± 19.12° (P = 0.0008). The EOSQ-24 was inversely proportional to the magnitude of the residual curve. There were 2 cases with superficial skin irritation and a single case with repeated vomiting after casting.

IEOS can be managed effectively by serial Mehta cast, which is proved not only by the clinical and radiological outcome but also by the improvement of the quality of life of the patients and their families as measured by the EOSQ-24.