Psychological evaluations of patients operated for idiopathic scoliosis by the Harrington method.

A study group of 204 patients operated for idiopathic scoliosis by the Harrington method at The Orthopedic Hospital of the Invalid Foundation (Orton) between 1970 and 1975 was studied to evaluate the integration of these patients into society regarding work outside the home, and to evaluate the patients' adaptation to their illness and factors relating to this adaptation. A brief intelligence test was also given. The mean age at the time of the first operation was 14 years, and at the time of follow-up it was 33 years.

Pregnancy and delivery in patients operated by the Harrington method for idiopathic scoliosis.

The course and outcome of 142 pregnancies in 146 patients operated between 1970 and 1975 by the Harrington method for idiopathic scoliosis were studied to determine the effects of scoliosis on pregnancy and childbirth and the effects of pregnancy on the remaining fused and unfused scoliotic curvatures. Occurrence of and sick leave due to low back pain during pregnancy was determined. The patients, all originally treated at the Orthopaedic Hospital of the Invalid Foundation (Orton) in Helsinki, Finland, were invited to a clinical and radiological re-examination on average 19 years following surgery.