Comparison of Children’s and Parents’ Perceptions of Appearance Related to Trunk Deformity in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis Using the TAPS Questionnaire: Retrospective Observations

Background/Objectives: Idiopathic scoliosis affects musculoskeletal biomechanics and trunk appearance. Patient-reported outcome measures, including the Trunk Appearance Perception Scale (TAPS), are important for assessing health-related quality of life and monitoring treatment. This study compared children’s and parents’ perceptions of trunk appearance before and after 5-day scoliosis-specific exercises according to Functional Individual Therapy of Scoliosis (FITS Method). Additionally, changes in the perception of trunk appearance by patients and parents were evaluated in relation to brace use. Methods: Ninety children with idiopathic scoliosis (74 girls and 16 boys; mean age: 13.6 ± 2.1 years) and their parents participated. Sixty-two children used a Chêneau brace. Most participants (n = 71) had double-curve scoliosis; the mean thoracic and lumbar Cobb angles were 32.5° ± 12.9 and 32.2° ± 13.0, respectively. Children and parents completed the TAPS at the beginning and end of the program. Results: After the 5-day rehabilitation program, TAPS scores were significantly higher in both children and their parents than at baseline (p < 0.001). The change in scores from before to after therapy differed significantly between children and parents (p = 0.046). In the group of children treated with braces, the assessment of the impact was statistically significant for both the children and their parents (p < 0.001 in both cases). In the group of children not treated with braces, the assessment was statistically significant only for the parents (p = 0.003). Conclusions: 1. Following a 5-day rehabilitation stay, a beneficial change was observed in the perception of trunk appearance among children with idiopathic scoliosis and their parents. 2. Parents rated the change after the program slightly more positively than the children themselves. 3. The perception of trunk appearance among children treated with and without a brace was similar after the stay.