Is scoliosis a common deformity in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis?

Abstract

Purpose: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic disease in childhood. Scoliosis can occur in children with JIA, since it mainly affects joint involvement, and contributes to the asymmetry of body and spine. This study aims to screen scoliosis in JIA, compare it with healthy controls, and evaluate the awareness among parents of children. Methods: 218 children with JIA (163 girls, 55 boys) and 144 healthy controls (124 girls, 20 boys) aged 4-16 years were involved in this study. Angle of Trunk rotation (ATR) was measured by a scoliometer by applying a forward bending test. Children with more than 5° ATR were referred to take X-ray. To collect demographic data from parents and assess their awareness of scoliosis, forms designed for parents were used. Results: Scoliosis was seen in 35 of the 218 (16.1%) children with JIA whose joints other than the spine were affected. 183 parents reported that they had never heard of scoliosis before the study. Scoliosis was seen in 25 children of the 183 children whose families had not heard of scoliosis before the examination. In families who had heard of scoliosis before the study, scoliosis was diagnosed in 10 of the 34 children. Conclusion: Parents of children with JIA should pay attention not only to joints and extremities but also to the spine and asymmetries in the body. However, instead of just assessing the affected joint, professionals should evaluate children with JIA comprehensively, including the spine.