Postoperative rehabilitation versus early mobilization following scoliosis surgery: A single-blind randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND

To compare the effect of five days of intensive postoperative rehabilitation and early mobilization following scoliosis surgery.

METHODS

Forty adolescent patients who had undergone scoliosis surgery were randomly allocated into a rehabilitation group (RG, n = 20) and a mobilization group (MG, n = 20). The RG received five days of intensive exercise program and early ambulation, the MG received five days of a standard gait training and early ambulation. The patients were evaluated for severity of pain using a visual analog scale, thorax mobility with the thoracic mobility index, balance with the functional reach test, walking distance with the 2-min walk test, and quality of life with the Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire. The length of hospital stay was recorded.

RESULTS

The RG was favored over the MG for improvements from 0 to 1 week for pain. Improvements from 0 to 1 week were significantly better in the RG than the MG group for thorax mobility, balance, and walking distance. Quality of life scores improvements from 0 to 1 week were significantly better in the RG group than in the MG group. The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the RG group.

CONCLUSION

Five days of intensive postoperative rehabilitation were superior to early mobilization in reducing the length of hospital stay, and in improving physical and functional outcomes following scoliosis surgery.