Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41432973›Full record

SynthesisSpine deformity2026

Beyond the curve: sexual and psychological health after adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treatment.

Imad Ashkar, Douaa El Rayes, Hilda Habib, Razan Z Zantout, Eduardo Muscogliati, Weronika Nocun, Rodrigo Muscogliati, Neel Badhe, Nasir A Quraishi, Khalid Salem and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Spine deformity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Imad AshkarGilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-2526-7619
Douaa El RayesGilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5745-1159
Hilda HabibGilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
Razan Z ZantoutGilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-1028-0327
Eduardo MuscogliatiLeicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-9111-2483
Weronika NocunLeicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK. weronika.nocun@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-7344-0898
Rodrigo MuscogliatiLeicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-9667-787X
Neel BadheSchool of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Nasir A QuraishiCentre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Nottingham, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1133-894X
Khalid SalemCentre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Elie NajjarCentre for Spinal Studies and Surgery, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Trust, Nottingham, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7130-3349

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhile the primary goal of treating Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is curve correction, long-term psychological and sexual outcomes are rarely examined. This systematic review evaluates whether bracing or surgical treatment affects sexual health, body image, and psychological well-being compared to healthy controls.

methodsA systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched up to November 2024 for studies assessing sexual and psychological outcomes in AIS patients treated with bracing or surgery. Inclusion criteria encompassed observational and interventional studies with validated outcome tools. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.

resultsNine studies involving 3231 participants were included. Among 1085 AIS patients (average age at treatment 15.6 years; female-to-male ratio 18:1), 498 underwent bracing and 587 underwent surgery. Meta-analyses demonstrated that AIS patients had significantly lower sexual function (FSFI: SMD = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.29-0.80), higher sexual distress (FSDS: SMD = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.21-1.32), and reduced sexual satisfaction (GSSI: SMD = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.10-0.74) compared to controls, with low heterogeneity across outcomes (I

conclusionAIS treatment may influence long-term sexual and psychological health, particularly among brace-treated patients. While surgical intervention may offer modest benefits, evidence remains limited. These outcomes should be incorporated into AIS follow-up and future research, emphasizing patient-centred care.

Indexed as

Body ImageBracesMental HealthScoliosisSexual BehaviorSexual HealthAdolescentBody SatisfactionFemaleHumansMalePsychological Well-BeingTreatment OutcomeAdolescent idiopathic scoliosisAISBody imageSexual function

Identifiers

PMID41432973

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.