Idiopathic adolescent scoliosis: Living with a physical deformity

Abstract

A qualitative, phenomenological, hermeneutical study with the aim of explaining the experience of having a body deformity diagnosed as idiopathic adolescent scoliosis. A semistructured interview conducted with scoliosis patients admitted to the unit of spinal cord at the Vall d’Hebron Hospital was used. The youth defined their scoliosis based on how they perceived their deformity. They spoke of pain and deformity as characteristic symptoms of suffering, and explained how this symptom affected their social relationships. Their deformity was associated with words such as “horrible”, “shame”, “complex” and “problem.” It is concluded that the symptom most referred is pain and the biggest concern of the of the youth was their body aesthetic and feelings associated with it. They attempt to solve this problem by adapting the way they dress and through surgery. Surgery can resolve the body deformity but not self-perception of their body image.