Detection of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

The aim of our study was to evaluate the current methods of detection of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Data were collected from 100 consecutive patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis referred to the Scoliosis clinic in 2000. The age of the patient, the Cobb angle at presentation and the person who first noticed the deformity were recorded. Sixty three percent of the cases were detected by family or friends. The number of cases being detected at school had dropped considerably to 8%. Fifty six percent of all cases presented with a Cobb angle of more than 40 degrees. Our study shows that the most common method of detection was by family and friends. Seventy percent of these cases were detected when the deformity was advanced with Cobb angles of more than 40 degrees. There was a drop in the number of cases detected at school when most of the curves are at an earlier stage. We believe that greater awareness is needed in the community, for earlier recognition of idiopathic scoliosis.