Scoliosis
Conditions
Keywords
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Scoliosis, Functional Outcomes, Postural Alignment, Pediatric Rheumatology
Brief summary
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that may affect musculoskeletal development and posture in children. Spinal involvement, including scoliosis, is not routinely evaluated in clinical practice despite its potential impact on functional status and quality of life. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the presence of scoliosis in children with JIA and to investigate its association with functional status, postural alignment, and disease activity. Clinical and functional parameters will be analyzed to better understand the impact of spinal deformities in this population.
Detailed description
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that may negatively affect musculoskeletal development, posture, and overall physical function in children. Although peripheral joint involvement is well characterized, axial and postural abnormalities, including scoliosis, are not routinely assessed during follow-up despite their potential clinical significance. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the presence of scoliosis in children with JIA and to investigate its relationship with disease activity, functional status, pain, and postural alignment. Comprehensive clinical assessments, including physical examination, disease activity scores, and functional evaluation tools, will be performed. Where applicable, postural analysis and imaging findings will also be considered. By identifying the frequency and clinical impact of scoliosis in JIA, this study seeks to improve awareness of spinal involvement and to provide a basis for early recognition and multidisciplinary management strategies, including targeted physiotherapy interventions.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Istanbul University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age between 8 and 18 years at the time of enrollment * Diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) according to ILAR criteria * Written informed consent obtained from parent/legal guardian and assent from the child/adolescent, when appropriate
Exclusion criteria
* Known scoliosis due to non-JIA causes (e.g., congenital vertebral anomalies, neuromuscular disorders, or syndromic scoliosis) * History of prior spinal surgery or current brace treatment for scoliosis * History of significant spinal trauma or spinal infection/tumor affecting spinal alignment * Presence of coexisting chronic conditions that significantly affect posture, gait, or functional testing (e.g., severe neurologic impairment) and may confound assessments * Inability to undergo required assessments (e.g., inability to stand for radiographs or complete functional measures)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Prevalence of Scoliosis in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis | At baseline (single study visit) | Proportion of participants with scoliosis, defined as a Cobb angle ≥10° measured on standing spinal radiographs. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scoliosis Severity (Cobb Angle) | At baseline (single study visit) | Cobb angle (degrees) measured on standing spinal radiographs. Scoliosis defined as Cobb angle ≥10°. |
| Health-Related Quality of Life (PedsQL) | At baseline (single study visit) | Health-related quality of life assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) total score (and physical and psychosocial subscale scores, if available). Scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale (range: 0-100), with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life. |
Contacts
CONTACTBengisu Menentoğlu
Outcome results
None listed