European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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To investigate the effects of posterior spinal fusion (PSF) and curve type on upper body movements in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) patients during gait. ⋯ In AIS patients, during gait an evident asymmetrical position of the trunk improved to an almost symmetric situation already 3 months after PSF and was maintained at 1 year. Despite a reduction of trunk ROM, patients were able to maintain the same walking pattern in the lower extremities after surgery. This improvement of symmetry and maintenance of normal gait can explain the rapid recovery and well functioning in daily life of AIS patients, despite undergoing a fusion of large parts of their spine.