Investigation of the osteopathic correction effectiveness in the treatment of pediatric patients with idiopathic scoliosis of the first degree

Abstract

Introduction. Scoliosis is a symptom of scoliotic disease, which is a polyetiological disease characterized by a certain symptom complex of morphological and functional changes in the spine, chest and internal organs. The greatest detectability of the disease occurs at the age of 8–13, during the period of the intensive skeleton growth, and during this period the most dangerous feature of scoliosis manifests itself — its steady and rapid progression in every 3–4th child. Despite the successful development of orthopedics, the treatment of scoliotic disease still remains a rather difficult problem. Osteopathic correction can potentially complement existing treatment schemes and increase their effectiveness.The aim of the study is to substantiate the possibility of osteopathic correction in the treatment of pediatric patients with grade I idiopathic scoliosis.Materials and methods. A prospective randomized controlled trial enrolled 50 patients aged 4 to 11 years with grade I idiopathic scoliosis. The study participants were divided into two groups by simple randomization. The control group participants received standard orthopedic treatment, and the main group participants received osteopathic correction. The osteopathic status and the degree of spinal curvature were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study.Results. Osteopathic correction of pediatric patients with grade I idiopathic scoliosis is accompanied by a decrease in the number of regional and local somatic dysfunctions and the frequency of detection of regional biomechanical disorders (p<0,05). The decrease of these indicators is more pronounced than in patients receiving standard orthopedic treatment (p<0,05). At the end of the treatment, there was a decrease in the Cobb angle in patients receiving osteopathic correction (from 7,3±0,8 to 4,2±0,8 degrees; M±m, p<0,05), and an increase of this indicator in patients who received standard therapy (from 7,0±0,7 to 9,1±1,4 degrees; M±m, p<0,05).Conclusion. The obtained results make it possible to consider the possibility of recommending of osteopathic correction for childhood patients with grade I idiopathic scoliosis.