Classic history and presentation: Patients may not experience any pain if the deformity is mild. In moderate and severe cases, patients may describe localized joint pain and/or radiating pain from nerve impingement, loss of height, shortness of breath, or a bulge or deformity on their back.
Prevalence: The prevalence of adult spinal deformity has been reported to be between 2% and 32% in patients aged 19-80 years in past studies. More recent studies suggest that the prevalence may be greater than 60% in the elderly population (patients 60 years and older).
- Age –18 years and older (but most prevalent in people 60 years and older).
- Sex / gender – Females are more likely to experience adult spinal deformity than males. Prevalence estimates are 41.2% for females and 27.5% for males.
Pathophysiology: Adult spinal deformity, and specifically scoliosis, typically results from age-related degeneration of the spine. Degeneration of intervertebral disks and a loss of shock absorption are often the first processes observed. Pathologic degeneration of facet joints typically follows, inducing bone remodeling and joint instability.
Grade / classification system: There is no agreed-upon standard classification system. The Cobb angle is used to specify the degree of curvature in the coronal plane.