The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 69, Issue 1 90-96, Copyright © 1987 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Scoliosis and pregnancy
RR Betz, WP Bunnell, E Lambrecht-Mulier and GD MacEwen
The effects of pregnancy on patients who have idiopathic scoliosis were
investigated in terms of increased risk of progression of the curve. The
charts, radiographs, and other pertinent data on 355 affected women who had
reached skeletal maturity (Risser Grade 4) before 1975 were reviewed and
analyzed. One hundred and seventy-five patients had had at least one
pregnancy each (Group A) and 180 patients had never been pregnant (Group
B). The groups were comparable with regard to the treatments that they had
received. After skeletal maturity was reached, the curve progressed more
than 5 degrees in 25 per cent and more than 10 degrees in 10 per cent of
the patients in each group. The age of the patient at the time of the first
pregnancy did not influence the risk of progression, and the stability of
the curve before pregnancy did not decrease the risk of its progression
during pregnancy. In patients who had had a spinal fusion, progression in
the unfused portion of the spine was negligible in both Group A and Group
B. The presence of a pseudarthrosis did not result in progression of the
curve during pregnancy. The effects of scoliosis on pregnancy and delivery
were evaluated in the 175 women in Group A. No specific problems that were
directly related to the scoliosis were noted except for four patients, in
whom delivery posed difficulties. The incidence of cesarean section was
one-half of the national average, and no sections were directly related to
the mother's scoliosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Technorati What's this?
