Evaluation of the Results of Scoliosis Surgeries In Iraq: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study

Objective: This study set out to look at how safe and effective posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgery is in scoliosis patients, and to explore both the complications and the outcomes after treatment. Methods: We carried out a prospective study of 90 patients with scoliosis who underwent PSF surgery at Ibn Sina Training Hospital in Baghdad between 2019 and 2024. Each patient was followed both clinically and radiographically to check for complications during and after surgery. Radiographic evaluation focused on device failure, union or pseudoarthrosis, and the need for revision. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Cobb angle correction, pain reduction (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), and patient satisfaction. Results: The average age at surgery was 10 ± 5.1 years, and patients were followed for about 5 ± 3.2 years. Most surgeries went smoothly, though some complications were observed, including infection, broken screws or rods requiring revision, and cases of hemo- or pneumothorax, which required chest tube placement in 14 patients. Three of these complications resolved within the first postoperative week. Overall, pain levels were well controlled, with a mean postoperative VAS score of 2.1 ± 0.7, and patients reported good satisfaction with the outcome. Conclusion: This study suggests that PSF surgery for idiopathic scoliosis is both safe and effective, particularly when performed close to skeletal maturity. With at least five years of follow-up, our findings indicate that early surgical intervention can improve outcomes, reduce pain, and minimize the risk of complications. Delaying surgery well beyond skeletal maturity, however, appears to increase the likelihood of problems after treatment.