The Impact of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis on Pregnancy.

J Bone Joint Surg Am · Apr 02 2025 · Review

Serhan KA, Abraham VM, Shirley ED

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia

Spine Pediatric Orthopaedics

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONThis review notes pregnancy-related spinal biomechanical changes can increase low back pain risk after AIS fusion to L3 or below, though curve progression risk remains low and epidural placement may be more difficult.
Abstract, as published

➢ Physiologic changes during pregnancy alter the biomechanics of the spine, including increased ligamentous laxity, lumbar lordosis, and pelvic tilt.➢ Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with a fusion construct with the lowest instrumented vertebra of L3 and below have an increased risk of developing low back pain during pregnancy.➢ There is a low risk of curve progression during pregnancy for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated with spinal fusion.➢ Although neuraxial anesthesia is possible in patients who had previously undergone spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, successful placement may require a more experienced provider and more attempts to place the epidural.

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