[Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis : Guideline for practical application]

Juvenile or adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a relatively common spinal deformity, with an incidence of more than 1 %. Early diagnosis can lead to successful therapy. In the case of pathological clinical findings, the anteroposterior X‑ray of the whole spine leads the way to the correct grading, according to Cobb angle measurement. Depending on the individual risk of progression, brace treatment will be started with a Cobb angle range of 20-25°. Important predictors of therapeutic success are sufficient primary corrective power and patient compliance. COBB angles of 40-50° usually lead to the recommendation for surgery, which is performed as either anterior or posterior spinal fusion in skeletally mature adolescents, depending on the grade of the deformity according to Lenke's classification. To achieve the best possible results, it is recommended that both conservative and surgical treatments are carried out by scoliosis specialists.