[Prognosis of extensive vertebral arthrodesis for scoliosis using Harrington's rods. Initial evaluation]

The authors have studied the technical results and the social status of patients operated on for scoliosis with Harrington rods. Only 137 of the first 330 patients, now adults, could be located and questioned. The scoliosis was idiopathic in nearly all cases. Correction of angulation was comparable to that found in the international literature. The aesthetic results were fair. Most of the patients are still young, and lead active lives without any noticeable loss of function or discomfort, except for low back pain whose frequency is discussed. Scoliosis, therefore, is thought to influence the social and professional future of these patients very little. Their problems have been analysed by the use of a questionnaire. The follow-up period for this early assessment is still short and needs to be completed by a further review in 10 to 15 years. It is likely that these results will not then be applicable to scoliosis of the future whose management will be likely to have altered.