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Scoliosis secondary prevention

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rohan A. Bhimani, M.B.B.S., D.N.B., M.Ch.[2]

Overview

The Scoliosis Research Society (USA), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons(AAOS), and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) recommends annual screening of all children between 10 and 14 years of age.The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended screening with the forward bending test at routine health supervision visits at 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age.

Primary Prevention

Adam’s forward bend test.Source: By Rigo M, Negrini S, Weiss HR, Grivas TB, Maruyama T, Kotwicki T – Rigo M, Negrini S, Weiss HR, Grivas TB, Maruyama T, Kotwicki T; SOSORT. Scoliosis 2006, 1:11. PMID 16857045. doi:10.1186/1748-7161-1-11., CC BY 2.0
  • The Scoliosis Research Society (USA), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons(AAOS), and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) recommends annual screening of all children between 10 and 14 years of age.[1][2][3][4]
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended screening with the forward bending test at routine health supervision visits at 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age[5]
  • Routine scoliosis screening is now done in middle and junior high schools.
  • Because of screening, many cases that would have previously gone undetected until they were more advanced, have been diagnosed at an earlier stage.

Screening Test

Adam’s Forward Bend Test

  • This is a simple screening test that can detect potential problems.
  • Ask kids to bend at the waist as if they were touching their toes.
  • Get eyes level with the child’s back to look for one side being higher than the other or any asymmetry of the back.

Scoliometer Test

  • Ask the child to slowly bend forward until the shoulders are level with the hips.
  • View the child from the back with eyes at the same level as the back.
  • Adjust the bending position height so the deformity of the spine is most pronounced.
  • Gently lay the scoliometer across the deformity at right angles to the body, with the marking centered over the curve.
  • Observe the scoliometer reading.










References

  1. ↑ Scoliosis Research Society. Park Ridge: Scoliosis Research Society; 1986. A handbook for patients.
  2. ↑ Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Wright JG, Dobbs MB (2013). “Effects of bracing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis”. N Engl J Med. 369 (16): 1512–21. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1307337. PMC 3913566. PMID 24047455.
  3. ↑ Richards BS, Vitale MG (2008). “Screening for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents. An information statement”. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 90 (1): 195–8. doi:10.2106/JBJS.G.01276. PMID 18171974.
  4. ↑ Sanders JO, Newton PO, Browne RH, Katz DE, Birch JG, Herring JA (2014). “Bracing for idiopathic scoliosis: how many patients require treatment to prevent one surgery?”. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 96 (8): 649–53. doi:10.2106/JBJS.M.00290. PMID 24740661.
  5. ↑ American Academy of Pediatrics. Elk Grove Village: American Academy of Pediatrics; 1988. Guidelines for health supervision II.

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