Análisis de la calidad de vida en los pacientes afectos de escoliosis vertebral / Analysis of the quality of life in patients affected by scoliosis

Objetivos: Analizar la calidad de vida mediante el test SRS 22 en los pacientes con escoliosis de 20 o más grados Cobb. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo prospectivo realizado a pacientes con escoliosis de al menos 20 grados Cobb y con edad comprendida entre 10 y 20 años. Fue realizado entre abril y mayo de 2016.Se les registró peso, talla, índice de masa corporal y cuestionario SR 22, que es un cuestionario específico de calidad de vida para pacientes con escoliosis. Los pacientes se dividieron en 2 grupos para su análisis: a) escoliosis entre 20 y 29 grados Cobb (n=44); y b) escoliosis de 30 grados Cobb o superior (n=32). Resultados: Existen diferencias significativas en las dimensiones que evalúan el dolor, la autopercepción de la imagen y la satisfacción del tratamiento, siendo peor valoradas cuando el grado de escoliosis es de 30 grados Cobb o superior. No hay diferencias significativas en la función/actividad ni en la salud mental. La puntuación global del cuestionario también fue peor en el grupo con mayor grado de escoliosis. El peso, talla e índice de masa corporal no han mostrado diferencias significativas según el mayor o menor grado de escoliosis. Conclusiones: La escoliosis afecta de forma importante a la calidad de vida de las personas que la padecen, existiendo una correlación negativa entre la gravedad de la escoliosis medida mediante grados Cobb y la calidad de vida

Objectives: To assess the quality of life using the SRS 22 test in patients with scoliosis of 20 or more degrees Cobb. Material and methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted between April and May 2016 on patients with scoliosis of at least 20 degrees Cobb and aged between 10 and 20 years. A record was made of weight, height, body mass index, and the SR 22 specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with scoliosis was completed. Patients were divided into two groups for analysis: a) scoliosis between 20 and 29 degrees Cobb (n=44); and b) scoliosis with a Cobb of 30 degrees or greater (n=32). Results: There were significant differences in the dimensions that assess pain, image self-perception, and satisfaction with treatment, being valued worse when the degree of scoliosis Cobb is 30 degrees or higher. There were no significant differences in function/activity or mental health. The overall score of the questionnaire was also worse in the group with the highest degree of scoliosis. The weight, height, and BMI showed no significant differences due to the varying degrees of scoliosis. Conclusions: Scoliosis significantly affects the quality of life of people who suffer it, and there is a negative correlation between the severity of scoliosis measured by degrees Cobb and quality of life

[Analysis of the quality of life in patients affected by scoliosis]. / Análisis de la calidad de vida en los pacientes afectos de escoliosis vertebral.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of life using the SRS 22 test in patients with scoliosis of 20 or more degrees Cobb. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective descriptive study was conducted between April and May 2016 on patients with scoliosis of at least 20 degrees Cobb and aged between 10 and 20 years. A record was made of weight, height, body mass index, and the SR 22 specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with scoliosis was completed. Patients were divided into two groups for analysis: a) scoliosis between 20 and 29 degrees Cobb (n=44); and b) scoliosis with a Cobb of 30 degrees or greater (n=32). RESULTS: There were significant differences in the dimensions that assess pain, image self-perception, and satisfaction with treatment, being valued worse when the degree of scoliosis Cobb is 30 degrees or higher. There were no significant differences in function/activity or mental health. The overall score of the questionnaire was also worse in the group with the highest degree of scoliosis. The weight, height, and BMI showed no significant differences due to the varying degrees of scoliosis. CONCLUSIONS: Scoliosis significantly affects the quality of life of people who suffer it, and there is a negative correlation between the severity of scoliosis measured by degrees Cobb and quality of life.

Papel del médico de familia en la cumplimentación y registro del documento de instrucciones previas / Role of the family doctor in the completion and registration of advance directives documents

La actitud de los profesionales sobre el testamento vital no es homogénea y varía en función de la especialidad, la experiencia y de las propias creencias; todavía muchos médicos siguen teniendo miedo de incomodar a los pacientes. No es igual la situación que se plantea para el profesional en un hospital de agudos con un paciente relativamente desconocido que lo que pueda surgir en una unidad de cuidados paliativos o en la consulta del médico de familia que es el que atiende de forma integral al paciente. En atención primaria se dispone de una situación privilegiada para acercarnos a la vida y los valores de nuestros pacientes y sus familiares y no solo a la enfermedad, lo que hace que sea el lugar adecuado para orientar y asesorar al paciente sobre la preparación y registro del documento de últimas voluntades (AU)

The attitude of professionals about living wills (advance directives) is not homogenous and varies depending on the specialty, experience and beliefs. Many doctors are still afraid of inconveniencing patients. The situation confronting the professional in an acute care hospital with a relatively unknown patient in a palliative care unit is not the same as consulting a family doctor who is caring for the patient holistically. Primary care has a unique position to approach the life and values of our patients and their families and not just the disease, which makes it the right place to guide and advise the patient on the preparation and registration of living wills (AU)

[Role of the family doctor in the completion and registration of advance directives documents]. / Papel del médico de familia en la cumplimentación y registro del documento de instrucciones previas.

The attitude of professionals about living wills (advance directives) is not homogenous and varies depending on the specialty, experience and beliefs. Many doctors are still afraid of inconveniencing patients. The situation confronting the professional in an acute care hospital with a relatively unknown patient in a palliative care unit is not the same as consulting a family doctor who is caring for the patient holistically. Primary care has a unique position to approach the life and values of our patients and their families and not just the disease, which makes it the right place to guide and advise the patient on the preparation and registration of living wills.

Dorsalgia persistente en varón de 62 años: ¿dolor mecánico? / Persistent backache in a 62 year-old male: Mechanical pain?

Se trata de un varón de 62 años, con antecedentes de tuberculosis pulmonar, que consulta en varias ocasiones a su médico de atención primaria por dorsalgia resistente al tratamiento analgésico/antiinflamatorio, y que generalmente coincide con la actividad física. Inicialmente se diagnosticó de dolor de características mecánicas pero ante la falta de respuesta al reposo y tratamiento, se solicitó resonancia magnética de columna que informó de metástasis óseas. Posteriormente se deriva al paciente para estudio hospitalario al servicio de medicina interna. La anatomía patológica descartó la presencia de células neoplásicas, y en las pruebas de imagen se evidenciaron alteraciones radiológicas en cuerpos vertebrales (osteomielitis-discitis), asociadas a absceso epidural, compatibles con mal de Pott tuberculoso (AU)

The case is presented of a 62 year old man with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, repeatedly consulting his primary care physician for treatment of analgesic / anti-inflammatory resistant back pain, and usually coincided with physical activity. It was initially diagnosed as mechanical pain, but in the absence of response to rest and treatment a magnetic resonance of the spine was requested, which reported bone metastases. The patient was then referred to Internal Medicine for further tests in hospital. The histopathology ruled out the presence of neoplastic cells, and imaging tests showed radiographic abnormalities in vertebral bodies (osteomyelitis-discitis) associated with epidural abscess, compatible with Pott’s disease, a kind of tuberculous arthritis of the intervertebral joints (AU)

[Persistent backache in a 62 year-old male: mechanical pain?]. / Dorsalgia persistente en varón de 62 años: ¿dolor mecánico?

The case is presented of a 62 year old man with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, repeatedly consulting his primary care physician for treatment of analgesic / anti-inflammatory resistant back pain, and usually coincided with physical activity. It was initially diagnosed as mechanical pain, but in the absence of response to rest and treatment a magnetic resonance of the spine was requested, which reported bone metastases. The patient was then referred to Internal Medicine for further tests in hospital. The histopathology ruled out the presence of neoplastic cells, and imaging tests showed radiographic abnormalities in vertebral bodies (osteomyelitis-discitis) associated with epidural abscess, compatible with Pott's disease, a kind of tuberculous arthritis of the intervertebral joints.