Long-Term Effects on Sexual Function in Women Treated With Scoliosis Correction for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study design: Retrospective cohort study with a cross-sectional comparison. Objectives: To assess sexual function and experience in adult women who had scoliotic correction for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods: Women ages 18–40 years with a history of scoliosis, who were braced or underwent uncomplicated posterior scoliosis correction for AIS, followed for two years or more since treatment were included. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires. Participants’ scores were compared to those of a control group consisting of age-matched healthy women. Results: Of 115 women who responded to the questionnaires, 40 (35%) had surgical treatment (mean age 25.1; range 19–35 years; mean time since surgery 8.2 years; range 3–12 years) and 35 (30%) were braced (mean age 23.3; range 18–27 years; mean time since treatment 3.6 years; range 3–5 years). The control group consisted of a cohort of 40 (35%) aged-matched healthy women. According to the FSDS-R, significantly more women with scoliotic correction for AIS reported sexual distress compared to healthy controls (25% vs 12%, respectively), and the difference in the total mean scores (7.05 vs 5.34, respectively), was significant (P <.001). Additionally, the mean overall FSFI score for scoliotic-corrected women was 24.2 (range 17.5–29.1) within the pathological range (<26.55) of sexual dysfunction. Conclusions: High rates of sexual distress and dysfunction were reported in women with a history of AIS, thus, there appears to be long-term consequences years after deformity correction by brace or surgical correction.