Introduction

Medicine is art: a scientific art, but always art [1, 2]. Medicine is art because it implies the ability of a single physician to choose the correct medical means to obtain the right results in front of a specific patient, a person (with his unique characteristics) with a pathology (with his individual expression) [2]. It is a scientific art in the sense that it must be as much related to the literature as possible (evidence based medicine), but conjugated with our everyday experience (evidence based practice) [3–7]. The fact that medicine is art implies that, once science is not clear, choices are made according to individual and collective beliefs, that should be better understood and studied [1, 2, 4, 5, 8].

This is particularly true in a field like adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, where currently the lack of RCTs does not allow to have any definitive evidence demonstrating the efficacy either of conservative or of surgical treatments [8–12]. In a remarkable Introduction to their book "Scoliosis: making clinical decisions" [13], Bunch and Patwardhan state: How do you think about scoliosis? Not, 'how do you operate?'; not, 'how do you use orthosis?'; but 'how do you think?'. They continue writing that the model one holds can make a great deal of difference in the treatment plan... mental models clearly determine how we do our work...; models are important primarily because they help us to form a vision with our 'mind's eye', which shapes our own model of disease and treatment and their interaction within the patient [13]. These phrases reasonably well describe why SOSORT members decided to discuss and find a consensus about 'why do we treat?': in a period of time in which in the field of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis it seems that two political parties are facing: one sustaining the need to wait for eventual surgery [10, 14–19]; the other, the importance of acting to treat our patients and to avoid more invasive treatments as far as it is possible [8, 12, 20–25], reasoning on the basis of what we are doing seems to us mandatory. At least, to open a wide and straight discussion with the rest of the world and, in any case, to confront between SOSORT members, that undoubtedly believe in conservative management of scoliosis.

Looking at the thoughts of physicians facing scoliosis, we can see that as far as four centuries B.C. Hyppocrates aimed at restoring the correct anatomy through methods that should act in accordance to nature [26]; it was only after the discovery of X-rays by Roentgen [26] and the consequent understanding of the natural history of scoliosis during growing age; finally it was described by Duval-Beaupere [27], that avoiding progression became a clear cut goal [13, 28, 29]: these two aims maintain their importance today. But the wide debate on screening for scoliosis, focused on the existence (or not) of efficacy evidence regarding early treatment of scoliosis [12, 17, 24], opened the Pandora's box of the outcome. This is the reason why we treat patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Psychological well-being (PWB) and Quality of Life (QoL), including actual and future Disability (Dis), were already clear in the mind of some pioneers such as Stagnara, who stated that we have to treat human beings with a deformity, not X-rays[29]. Blount and Moe, in the preface to their book 'The Milwaukee Brace', stated the importance of lowering psychological disturbances of braces and even of the help that a well conducted conservative treatment gives to the formation of a mature, adult personality [28]. Along this path, the role of the physician and of the entire treating team is crucial [30]. Today, PWB is considered as determinant [31].

Cobb also considered other outcomes in addition to avoiding the increase (or decrease) of the curve per se: they included improving muscle tone, vital capacity, Aesthetic (Aes) appearance, posture and health, and these were all reasons to prescribe exercises [32].

The cornerstone studies (even if with possible methodological flaws [19]) on the long term natural history of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis published in these years by Weinstein [33–36], the last one with an outstanding editorial by Sponseller [11]. He focused on other issues that could be determinant for patients in the long term, such as Progression in Adulthood (PiA), Breathing Function (BF) (in terms of survival), function in life (marrying, child-bearing, employment, depression, Back Pain [BP], Dis, Aes, neurological impairment). The same issues (function [37, 38], QoL[39], marital status and number of children [40], BP [37, 38], PiA [37, 38], limitations of social activities [39] and sexual function [40]) were considered in long term studies by Danielsson and Nachemson that compared braced and surgically treated idiopathic scoliosis patients to a matched normal sample 20 years after treatment.

In this situation, in which many aims have been proposed it seems that the world of treatment, focused on X-rays and scoliosis Cobb degrees (SCD), is not so strictly conscious of the long term results of which SCD are only a part, and presumably not the most important one;with our paper we aimed to verify the philosophical choices, the final outcome of a group of people believing and engaged in conservative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.

Materials and methods

The work has been performed in four distinct parts:

A systematic literature search on the topic and a bibliometric analysis.

A questionnaire preparatory to the Consensus Meeting.

A Consensus reaching procedure, including distribution to participants of results of previous steps (first part of this paper: preliminary document[41]) and a Meeting with a thorough presentation of this document, focused presentations, and long discussions.

A final Consensus questionnaire.

Systematic literature search

First, we aimed at identifying all papers that could have faced the philosophical topic of our paper. We searched the Medline database, using free text, from the date of inception to November 2004, without applying any language restriction. We used the words idiopathic scoliosis and set the limits editorial, guideline, meta-analysis and randomized controlled trial. Moreover, we made a hand-search in the Library of an Italian Study Group (Gruppo di Studio della Scoliosi e delle patologie vertebrali) fully dedicated to the rehabilitation of spinal diseases in general and to scoliosis in particular; itcontain more the 300 books on these topics, published from 1978 (creation date of the Study Group) to 2004. According to the abstract, we selected the final papers that were read to search relevant information on the topic to be introduced in the document sent to participants to the Consensus Meeting.

Secondly, we performed a bibliometric analysis: we wanted to verify how many papers that dealt with outcomes in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis considered the possibly relevant outcomes. During the preparation of the study, the possibly relevant outcomes of scoliosis treatment have been proposed by the first author and submitted to a preliminary Consensus between the authors of this study: a final list was provided according to Table 1. We searched the Medline database, using free text, from the date of inception to November 2004, without applying any language restriction. We used the words: idiopathic scoliosis that where combined with the operator AND to each single outcome previously identified according to the search strategy reported in Table 2. Together with the bibliometric analysis, we looked at the contents of retrieved paper to add any relevant information on the topic to the document sent to participants to the Consensus Meeting. After the Meeting we performed the same Medline search for the new outcome criteria.

Table 1 Pre-Meeting questionnaire. The options listed in the second and third column were required for all outcomes. More free choice Outcomes could be added.
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Table 2 Bibliometric analysis: number and percentage of papers in Medline on idiopathic scoliosis related to the outcome considered, and search strategy used.
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Questionnaire preparatory to the Consensus Meeting

The questionnaire has been prepared through a Consensus between the authors of the study. We made a first version, that was discussed by e-mail in order to produce a second edition that was submitted to a pre-test by e-mail, to obtain the final form. The title of the questionnaire was 'Why do we treat? What we want to obtain and avoid for our patients'and the following questions were proposed:

When you start a treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, what do you want to obtain/avoid in adult age for your patient? What are your final outcomes? (we propose some possible outcomes: choose yours and eventually propose some new ones)

Which outcomes are more important (priority: 1 high – 2 medium – 3 low)?

Why did you choose these outcomes?

Define the type of outcome: primary or secondary (i.e. an outcome that you strongly want to obtain – primary – could require, to be achieved, the reaching of another outcome – secondary)

The possibly relevant outcomes of scoliosis treatment identified by the authors were listed and the questionnaire was set according to Table 1. Questionnaires constituted the abstracts of the SOSORT Consensus meeting in Milan, January 2005, and have been sent out by e-mail, together with the Preliminary Program, to all the attendees of the 1st International Meeting on Conservative Management of Spinal Deformities held in January 2004 in Barcelona; the Questionnaires have been sent also to all other people interested in the conservative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis that it was possible to retrieve according to indexed literature. To gather the highest number of opinions, it was required to fill in the questionnaire independently by the participation to the Consensus Meeting, and to reply by e-mail 1.5 months before the Meeting. We received 19 compiled questionnaires.

Consensus Meeting

A summary document[41], prepared by the authors and containing the results of the questionnaire, was sent out by e-mail to all participants 15 days before the Consensus Meeting to prepare discussion. During the Meeting, in a two-hour session, the results of the Pre-Meeting questionnaire were presented by the first author, two short-presentations were made by participants, and a free-discussion followed. The final questionnaire was prepared and distributed to be compiled by all participants.

Final questionnaire

According to the results of the Consensus Meeting, a final questionnaire was prepared and proposed to the participants to the Consensus Meeting. The first part was similar to that distributed before the meeting and reported in Table 1: only the question why was avoided, while priority and type of priority were maintained. The final questionnaire was filled-in by 32 participants to the Consensus Meeting in Milan.

Statistical analysis

All data were managed using Microsoft Excel 2000. Pre and post-Meeting answers were compared using the chi-square test.

Results

Literature search

For the purposes of this article we considered 135 papers, while the bibliometric analysis considered a base of 2372 papers published in Medline. We verified that the highest frequency of citation of the considered outcome criteria for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis relate to SCD, while BP, radiographic rotation (Perdriolle degrees – PD) and PiA receive less, but still significant importance. The other identified outcomes are much more less considered: the low importance given to Dis and QoL is particularly noticeable.

Questionnaire preparatory to the Consensus Meeting

Before the Meeting, BF and PiA were considered by SOSORT members as the most important long term outcome criteria (Table 3); apart from SCD, that in any case ranked 5th, the other usual clinical and radiographic measurement were considered of low importance; Dis had the lowest score. BP, Aes, Needs of further Treatments in Adulthood (NTA) and Rib Hump (RH) have been chosen because they are considered important for General belief, while in the other cases for Literature Evidence (Table 4). BP, Kypho-lordosis Cobb degrees (KLD) and PD were the only outcome criteria considered of secondary importance (Table 5). Some responders proposed other outcomes that mainly related to functioning (8 out of 9), in particular to neuro-motorial tasks (6).

Table 3 Priorities for each outcome, listed from the highest to the lowest in rank, pre and post Consensus Meeting. The column "Percentage of responders" refers to those that considered each outcome relevant.
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Table 4 Motivation for the choice of each outcome, listed according to the median of responses. Pre Consensus Meeting results.
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Table 5 Importance given to each outcome, listed according to the median of responses. Pre and post Consensus Meeting results.
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Final Consensus

All answers changed in a statistically significant way (Tables 3 and 5), with the exception of the importance given to NTA. The changes do not reflect an increase of Consensus: participants giving the Median value answer decreased from a range of 57.1–93.7% to 47.8–82.7%. The most important final outcomes turned out to be Aes (100%), QoL and Dis (more than 90%), while more than 80% of preferences went to BP, PWB, PiA, BF, SCD, NTA. BP, considered as secondary before the Meeting, became primary in the final Consensus; the opposite happened for SCD, while 3 of the newly included outcomes were considered primary: in particular PWB, but also "Knowledge and understanding of scoliosis in general and their specific pattern" and "Balance". Generally speaking, the importance given to usual clinical and radiographic measurements decreased, while that given to QoL-related issues (including Aes and Dis) increased.

Discussion

We performed a multifaceted study that included a bibliometric analysis, a questionnaire, and then a careful Consensus reaching procedure between experts in conservative treatment of scoliosis (SOSORT members), to analyse an unusual topic in the literature, such as the motivation for treatment, that is in any case undoubtedly strictly related to everyday clinical behaviours. Looking in general to the results, it seems that in the literature data on radiographic, but also clinical outcome criteria, prevail, while they were considered of the lowest importance in the answers to the questionnaire, and even lower after the Consensus Meeting.

Aesthetics (Aes)

SOSORT members considered Aes as very relevant and of primary importance, and this increased after the Consensus; only almost 3.5% of the studies in the literature on idiopathic scoliosis relate to this issue. These results presumably reflect the actual absence of means to measure this outcome, (that was encountered by some authors who anyway produced very interesting studies), and the fact of being compelled to rely only on simple observation and individual judgement[42]: there have been some proposals in the literature, including questionnaires[36, 39, 43–45], and high-tech high-cost instruments [46–50], but none reached any kind of a consensus nor is actually extensively used in everyday clinical practice.

Today, the SRS-22 questionnaire[43, 51–53], that includes questions on this topic, even if mainly in a psychological perspective, has been validated in different languages [54–57] and could be useful in the future to have valuable data. Aes is considered when both surgical[42, 45, 46, 58] or conservative[38, 59–63] treatment results are reviewed; wearing of braces can give rise to Aes concerns, that have been faced in the literature[62, 64]; moreover, the implication of Aes on PWB in scoliosis patients has been thoroughly discussed[44, 65, 66]. Surgical treatments have been proposed for cosmetic appearance [67–69]. The data on natural history show that idiopathic scoliosis patients with severe curves have some degree of deformity and that they all have cosmetic concerns independently of the importance of the curve[36]; twenty years after treatment, 49% of patients fused and 34% of those braced, (compared to 15% of controls,), showed limitations of social activities mostly due to difficulties with self-consciousness about back appearance, but also to physical limitations and fear of injury, while personal relationships seem not to be influenced[39]; patients feel to look more unattractive in bathing suit (but also wearing clothes) when compared with controls [37–39]. In summary, Aes is a priority one reason to treat our patients: results can be achieved both with bracing and surgery, but also with exercises [20].

Quality of life (QoL) and Disability (Dis)

QoL is considered of primary and high importance by SOSORT members, with an increase of rank after Consensus, while in the literature this outcome is almost neglected (1.48% of papers). Data on QoL in the literature appear strictly related (sometimes even confused) with data on Dis, but this is not true only for scoliosis; in fact this outcome is almost new in the field of spine research [70] and should be better understood and deepened. To check QoL, disease-specific scales have been applied, like the SRS-22[43, 51–53], but also Oswestry and Roland-Morris[37, 38, 71], (even if these should be regarded mainly as Dis scales, or general health evaluations for children[72] and adults [73–76]); other scales have rarely been used[37–39, 72, 76]. Anyway, one specific scale, (the QoL Profile for Spine Deformities – QLPSD) appears in the literature[77]. New instruments should be developed, and already well established ones should be used (even if they are usually prepared for adult populations). QoL is another key outcome, and two kind of specific instruments are needed both for children (treatment impact on QoL) and adults (long term results and/or consequences of pathology).

SOSORT members at first considered Dis as the less relevant outcome, in a way reflecting the literature (only 1% of the studies), while after discussion in the Consensus Meeting its importance increased greatly, up to rank 3, as well as the importance. Dis is considered so important by the general community that since 1980 the World Health Organisation, with the aim of better understanding health conditions, proposed a companion classification of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), named International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap (ICIDH)[78, 79]; it became the conceptual basis of the medical specialty of Rehabilitation, and it has recently been totally revised with the new International Classification of Function (ICF) [80–82]: this means that Rehabilitation in general, but also physicians looking at scoliosis patients as persons with an health problem, cannot neglect Dis. It can be measured generally or in a disease-specific way, but only recently a scoliosis specific questionnaire has been developed by SRS [43]. The literature refers to Dis and scoliosis mainly while evaluating BP[71, 83–85], because in the field of BP Dis evaluation is a far more established tool. Looking only at deformity, (even if actual and future Dis are well understood as an outcome both by patients and parents[44]), there is very few literature: curiously, brace wearing Dis[77, 86, 87] is considered, while the immediate effect of being fused is not (at least, we did not find any study); long term studies refer both to previous surgery[37, 39, 74, 75, 88] and bracing[38, 39]. Patients with severe untreated curves in the long-term reveal some Dis, even if not measured with disease-specific scales[36]. After 20 years, treated patients, both braced and fused, have been considered to have almost the same function as matched controls[37, 38], but looking at the data it appears that physical functioning, social activities (more in the surgically-treated than in the braced group) and work (sick-leave) are reduced, while general health only in the operated ones[39]. Dis should be better addressed in the future also by the scoliosis treating community, with more disease-specific scales and looking at short as well as long term results. It is definitively a good reason to treat our patients.

Back Pain (BP)

Before the Meeting, BP was considered a relevant, but secondary, outcome criterion for SOSORT members, but its priority increased with Consensus and importance became primary. In the literature BP is an important issue associated with idiopathic scoliosis (8.73%, more that any other outcome criterion, apart SCD). Papers are mostly split in two between adulthood (46.8%) and growing age (44%), and relate to almost all possible topics in idiopathic scoliosis treatment. In adults, BP has been reported as follows: life prevalence 61% in high degree curvatures[89], one year prevalence 73%[83], point prevalence 44%[83]; when compared to control groups, the same[90] or higher incidence (44% vs 24%, and 73% vs 56% in one year)[83] was reported. Severity of BP[83, 90], persistence or progression with time[90], generalization throughout the back, and radiation into the extremities[83] are higher than in a control group, as well as chronicity (61% vs 35%)[36]. Risk factors include gender (women), pregnancy, fatigue[89], age, degree of scoliotic curvature, lumbar curves[90], smoking[91], and not pre-surgery characteristics, degree of surgical correction, distal level of fusion, degree of Dis[84]. When compared to controls, surgically treated patients have an identical prevalence (73%)[84], but more BP[37], an increased Oswestry score[39], and more degenerative disc changes correlated to lumbar BP intensity[37, 92]. Also, braced patients have more BP and disk degeneration than controls[38]. When compared to braced patients, fused ones have a similar Oswestry score[39], but a higher limitation of social activities partially due to BP[39]. Finally, three very interesting papers reported on BP in adolescents [93–95]: point prevalence is between 23% (increased gradually to 58% during follow-up)[93] and 54% [95]. These papers lack a control group, but their results are similar to the actual data on BP in children[96, 97]. Risk factors during adolescence are Risser sign, gender, pelvic tilt and bracing [95], particularly progression during brace treatment[94], but not severity of scoliosis[95] or other clinical data[93].

In summary, BP is a good reason to treat our patients on a literature basis looking at adulthood, while, as far as we know today, it is not immediately necessary in adolescents. Presumably, exercises are the best treatment of actual BP, while bracing can have a detrimental effect; conservative treatments seem to have better results on the future than surgery.

Psychological Well-Being (PWB)

PWB was not included in the first questionnaire, while after Consensus its importance was considered as primary and the priority ranked significantly fifth according to SOSORT members. In the literature it is not so much represented (almost 3%), while it is usually considered in QoL and Dis studies[39, 73, 76, 77, 98], and is mostly evaluated with the same instruments used for these outcomes, sometimes with specific sub-scales. Some non systematic reviews have been dedicated to PWB [66, 99]. In a large population-based case-control study (34,706 adolescents, 685 with scoliosis) scoliosis showed to be an independent risk factor for suicidal thought, worry and concern over body development, and peer interactions, with gender differences[100]. PWB has been evaluated during brace treatment [64, 101, 102]: the high negative psychological impact of Milwaukee brace has been pointed out[65, 103, 104], in particular when compared to TLSOs[77]. A very interesting study analysed PWB and compliance to brace: noncompliant girls did not expect success of treatment, had low self-esteem and did not seek social support, while the contrary was true for noncompliant boys; in short time of brace use, low compliance was best predicted by low reflective thinking and good body-image, and again the contrary was true for patients who had used the brace for >6 months. Curiously, the more the patients experienced sleeping problems, the less they used the brace[105]. PWB predicts satisfaction with final results of surgery[58] and it is used also to evaluate surgery[39, 106] and bracing [39, 65] in the long term. Scoliosis has been considered as associated with eating disorders, which were not measured[107]. PWB is very important to be evaluated in children as well as in adults: bracing and surgery have a high impact, but also exercises performed for years can have it. While lowering this impact is a key for success, this outcome cannot be neglected in research studies.

Progression in Adulthood (PiA)

PiA is a rather important primary outcome criterion and is present in as far as 4.6% of papers on idiopathic scoliosis. Its importance has been highly stressed by SOSORT members before the Meeting, while it decreased after Consensus. In the past there was the general belief that after the end of growth there was no progression of scoliosis[33]. Many studies beginning from 1950's begun to show that this was not the case[33, 36, 89, 108]. Data on natural history at 40 years tell us that curves progress in 68% of cases and that it is possible to identify risk factors such as 30° SCD and 33% of radiographic rotation[33]. Obviously PiA correlates with all other outcome criteria and, as far as we know today, it is reasonable to consider this as a primary outcome criterion.

Needs of further Treatments in Adulthood (NTA)

SOSORT members considered this a quite important primary issue, without big changes after Consensus. We were not able to create a valid Medline search strategy for this outcome criterion, so we lack the data on the literature; anyway, in this respect we could consider those coming from issues that could need a treatment if they appear, such as reduced BF or BP or PiA; the same could be done looking at the data from natural history[36] and long term results of treatment [37–39]. According to those data and our results, NTA seem to be a good reason to treat our patients.

Breathing Function (BF)

The answers to the questionnaire by SOSORT members gave the highest and primary importance at BF before the Meeting, while Consesus reduced it a lot. In the literature almost 5% of the studies on idiopathic scoliosis considers this issue, that relies on well established, extensively tested and used ways of measurement in respiratory medicine. The outcome "Exercise efficiency", added after Consensus, refers to the same bibliographic references. BF has been used as a means to evaluate patients before and after surgery[109, 110], and even the type of surgery to be performed[111], but it has also been evaluated during bracing, both while wearing it [112–115] and in the long term[113]. Many studies focused on exercises and rehabilitation means to improve this function in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis [116–123], while the most related to biomechanics and physiologic studies on pulmonary function in patients[124, 125]. Two cornerstone papers have been published by Pehrsson and Nachemson. They found that in the long term mortality for pulmonary deficit is increased with respect to the normal population only in infantile and juvenile scoliosis, not in the adolescent type [126–128], even if subgrouping could have decreased the power of the statistical analysis. In fact, in the 50 year natural history study by Weinstein, patients with severe thoracic curves have a decreased pulmonary function, with an increased risk of shortness of breath[36]. Sponseller raised some questions on the possibility that there may exist a correlation between pulmonary function and mortality (since at least 4 persons in Weinstein's series could have died because of that and the cause for too many others is unknown[11]). Long-term data on braced and surgically treated comparable patients are actually lacking. In summary, BF seems to be a good reason to treat our patients, even if the literature does not fully support this idea (at least for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and only when looking at mortality data, not when looking at pulmonary function and well-being).

Radiographic and clinical data

The universally recognized Gold Standard of measurements for scoliosis, SCD to measure radiographic lateral flexion of the spine, ranked first in the literature, with as far as 16.65% of association with idiopathic scoliosis. SOSORT members, that already before the Meeting ranked SCD "only" 5th both for priority and importance (primary); further lowered these results after Consensus, ranking SCD 8th for priority and considering it of secondary importance. Also KLD (more than 8%) and PD (6.58%) have highest ranks for the presence in the literature on idiopathic scoliosis, while they had some of the lowest scores and were of secondary importance for SOSORT members, both before and after the Meeting. On the contrary, a clinical sign as RH has a scant consideration in the literature on idiopathic scoliosis (3,33%); its priority is quite high for SOSORT members and, contrarily to radiographic data, it has been considered a primary outcome both before and after the Meeting. Looking at the literature, it is not possible to go in great details, because papers with these outcomes relate to almost all possible topics in idiopathic scoliosis. Natural history at 40 years tells us that curves under 30° remain stable after the end of growth, while they progress on average of 19° when they are over this value, in particular if they overcome 50°[33]. It seems that being over 30° of lateral flexion and 33% of radiographic rotation is a key risk factor[33]. The hump increased to the actual 36 mm thoracic and 24 mm lumbar in 50 years[36]. While looking at the results of treatment, we do not have results on conservatively or surgically treated populations comparable at start of treatment yet, aside from Danielsson's and Nachemson's paper (Table 6), in which starting data were anyway totally different [37–39]; the results on the sagittal plane in these series are very interesting too. In summary, all radiographic and clinical data that are considered as so important on a literature basis have been rejected in a corner by SOSORT members, excluding the particular cases of SCD (presumably because of the well established literature tradition) and RH (presumably because of its high Aes impact). In fact, we have always to split outcomes in primary and secondary, being the first ones those that are directly perceived by patients and that change their life, and the second ones those that give rise to the former. Looking in this way, all radiographic and clinical data are secondary, because they are clues to possible future (or even actual) BP, Dis, reduced Aes, BF and QoL. Anyway, even if secondary, they for sure are important outcomes, because easily measurable.

Table 6 Summary of radiographic and clinical results reported in the three studies by Danielsson and Nachemson.
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The posture, balance and movement related outcomes

All these outcome criteria have been added in the final questionnaire according to first submission and Consensus discussion. The posture-related outcome included "Self control of posture" and "Sensory motor integration of the corrective ideal pattern"; the balance-related outcome included "Balance", "Improved processing of vestibular input" and "Equality of weight bearing"; the movement-related outcome included "Movement of the vertebral column (sagittal plane)" and "Improved body motor awareness and motor learning skills". Aside from "Balance", that was the last one in the primary outcomes, all the others were considered as secondary, while their importance was low (even if chosen by more than 56% of SOSORT members). In the literature 6.9% of papers relates to posture, 4.5% to balance and 4.1% to movement. Posture is the biomechanical representation of a neurological function in which balance and movement are fully included. Posture and balance have been widely considered in studies on aetiology and pathogenesis of scoliosis [129–144], where scoliosis is considered as a neurological disease with a mechanical representation. Studies on these aspects can be split in those mainly neurological[139–141, 145–148] and mainly biomechanical, that evaluated standing position[149, 150], sitting [151, 152], but also gait [153–155] or the relation with backpacks[156, 157]. Balance is usually evaluated through force platforms[139–141, 150, 156–158], while movement requires high-cost complex instruments[153–155, 159]. The evaluation of posture is thought to be made through x-rays, not considering that posture is dynamic while x-rays are static: anyway, surface measurements [46–50] are not easily usable in clinics yet; an interesting x-ray approach to posture is comparing supine and standing for SCD [160–162], but also PD[163]. Posture, balance and movement can be increased only with rehabilitation through exercises. Surgery abolishes movement, creates a correct position, but eliminating the dynamic intrinsic to posture, while balance can be impaired. Bracing too impacts negatively on movement and balance, while there could be a positive neurological impact contributing to posture change.

Cognitive outcome

The outcome "Knowledge and understanding of scoliosis in general and their specific pattern" was added in the final questionnaire according to first submission and Consensus discussion. While it was considered by SOSORT members as a primary outcome, and ranked medium for priority, in the literature only 3% of papers can be connected to this outcome. In spinal rehabilitation the importance of cognitive-behavioural approaches is very well known, mainly in BP. In scoliosis, coping strategies and cognitive-behavioural approaches have not been widely studied, even if there are researches mainly on surgery [164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169], but also on bracing [105] as well as on exercises [66]. This outcome is important also because it relates to compliance, and should be better studied in the future.

Conclusion and research recommendation

Why do we treat? What do we want for our patients? In the literature, outcome criteria driven by the contingent treatment needs or the possibility to have measurement systems (even if it seems that usual clinical and radiographic methods are given much more importance than Dis or QoL instruments) prevail: these results could be biased by the method used, that did not include a complete analysis of each single paper, even if the authors' knowledge of the literature and the international Meetings on the topic confirm the idea that we are used to thinking much more to how to do then to why we do[13]. Experts in conservative treatment (SOSORT members) give importance to a wide range of outcome criteria, in which clinical and radiographic issues (apart from SCD, that in any case ranked in a mid position) have the lowest importance. It should be very interesting to propose the same methodology in a sample of high level experts in surgical care, to verify the answers to the same questions. Today, research recommendations should be made to develop valid, reliable and possibly low-cost instruments to evaluate Aes, PWB, posture, balance and movement, while existing QoL and Dis scales should be improved. Moreover, on the basis of our results, we advocate a multidimensional, comprehensive evaluation of scoliosis patients, to gather all necessary data for a complete therapeutic approach, that goes beyond x-rays to reach the person and the family.