Pediatric scoliosis

Pediatric scoliosis is a relatively uncommon condition typically first noticed due to altered stature or by routine spine screenings by a school nurse or pediatrician. The formal diagnosis is made with spine radiographs, with coronal curvature measurement of 10° or greater. Treatment may consist of serial observation, bracing until skeletal maturity, or surgery for correction and fusion/stabilization of severe or progressive deformity. Overall success for non-operative management of scoliosis is affected by the etiology for the deformity, close follow up and monitoring for evolution of the deformity, and patient compliance with their treatment regimen. The most common surgical technique is a posterior approach spine fusion with implanted instrumentation, and patients are typically back to their activities of daily living by 6 months postoperatively. Continued intermittent monitoring of the scoliosis throughout adulthood is recommended, to detect late deformity progression, development of arthritis symptoms, or other associated issues.