Abstract

ALEIXO, Catarina  and  NEVES, Nuno. Escoliose degenerativa. Rev. Port. Ortop. Traum. [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.3, pp.271-284. ISSN 1646-2122.

Aim: review of updated literature on degenerative scoliosis, including the latest developments regarding epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical and therapeutic interventions. Sources of data: search in the Pubmed database using keywords "degenerative scoliosis" and "adult scoliosis", limited to the past 10 years. Original papers and reviews focusing degenerative scoliosis were selected, according to the relevance to our work. Furthermore, other articles were added, obtained through references of previous selected articles. Summary of data: degenerative scoliosis develops in up to two thirds of the adult population, limiting markedly the quality of life of affected patients. Due to increasing life expectancy, an increasingly common diagnosis is expected. In recent years there have been significant advances in understanding the disease, with the emergence of new data, clinical and imaging, with implications in the classification and treatment. A profound debate still exists about the indications and surgical treatment options, but it seems clear that the current surgical and anesthetic techniques allow significant functional and symptomatic improvement, with low complication rates in appropriately selected patients, particularly the elderly. Conclusions: due to global aging of population an increasing prevalence of the degenerative scoliosis is ascertained. An exhaustive study and a careful selection of patients allow an optimization of treatment outcomes and a marked decrease in complications.

Keywords : Degenerative scoliosis; adult scoliosis; "De novo" scoliosis; adult spinal deformities; spinal surgery; saggital balance.

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