Predictors of postoperative pain trajectories in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Objective: To determine the typical trajectory of pain during the first 6 months after spinal fusion surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and the extent to which certain demographic, medical, and psychological variables modify this trajectory.

Summary Of Background Data: Pain after spinal fusion surgery for AIS may not improve predictably with elapsed healing time, and limited data exist on predictors of the course of pain during the initial months after surgery.