Early Detection of Idiopathic Scoliosis in Adolescents

The early detection of idiopathic scoliosis has been advocated since the 1950s and ’60s, concurrent with the development in the modern era of ambulatory spinal orthoses to treat scoliosis in adolescents. This led to the development of screening programs for specific populations, as evidenced by school screening programs in the United States and public health systems in Europe and Asia. Over time, the value of population screening in terms of optimal health care and economics has been debated in the popular press, by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and by professional societies. Recent studies on the effectiveness of bracing to prevent the progression of scoliosis, improved delineation of “at-risk populations,” and refined orthotic management programs with emphasis on the use of compliance monitors have influenced the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to update their position on screening for scoliosis and has led to a joint position statement on the topic