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Updated: Aug 21, 2025
Cell-based Assay Protocol for the Prognostic Prediction of Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Cellular Dielectric Spectroscopy
Published on: October 16, 2013
Diseases and comorbidities associated with early-onset scoliosis: a retrospective multicenter analysis
Mason AlNouri1, Kanichiro Wada2, Gentaro Kumagai2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, 5 Zaifu-Cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan. mason.alnouri@hirosaki-u.ac.jp.
Insights
Early-onset scoliosis often presents with multiple complex diseases, most commonly global developmental delay. Awareness of these associations aids in early screening and treatment for affected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Medical Genetics
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) encompasses a range of spinal deformities in children under 10 years old.
- Understanding associated comorbidities is crucial for comprehensive patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of diseases associated with all types of early-onset scoliosis (EOS), both idiopathic and nonidiopathic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 469 patients under 10 years old diagnosed with scoliosis over a 21-year period.
- Data collected included patient demographics, diagnosis, follow-up, curve pattern, comorbidities, and Cobb angle.
- Comorbidities were tabulated and compared across different patient variables.
Main Results:
- Nearly half of EOS patients (56.7%) had multiple comorbidities.
- Global developmental delay (42.2%), hip dysplasia (16.8%), and epilepsy (16.8%) were the most frequent comorbidities.
- Central nervous system involvement was common (54.4%), with males exhibiting more comorbidities than females.
Conclusions:
- Early-onset scoliosis is frequently associated with complex comorbidities affecting multiple organ systems.
- Key associated conditions include global developmental delay, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy.
- Clinicians must be vigilant for these comorbidities to ensure timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose:
To determine the frequencies of various diseases associated with all types of early-onset scoliosis, both idiopathic and nonidiopathic.
Methods:
Retrospective collection of patients within a 21-year interval. Children under 10 years old presenting with scoliosis were included. Medical records were used to collect: identifier, date of birth, sex, diagnosis, follow-up, curve pattern, comorbidities, initial and final cobb angle. Different patient variables were tabulated with associated comorbidities for comparison.
Results:
The cohort contained 469 patients, with 227(48.4%) males and 242(51.6%) females. Total comorbidities equaled 1051, where 190 were unique. Only 124(26.4%) patients had an isolated diagnosis of early-onset scoliosis, 79(16.8%) had a single comorbidity, and 266(56.7%) had multiple comorbidities. "Global developmental delay" was most commonly observed, 198(42.2%) times. The central nervous system was involved more often than other organ systems, seen in 394(54.4%) instances. Males had more comorbidities than females. Idiopathic patients had the least number of comorbidities, while neuromuscular patients had the most. Idiopathic types had more musculoskeletal conditions, while congenital types had more cardiovascular diseases. Curve sides did not affect distributions. Cases which progressed had more comorbidities, especially in the respiratory, digestive, and cardiovascular systems. Diseases that could affect either extremity or side, were more likely to be bilateral.
Conclusions:
Early-onset scoliosis patients may present with complex comorbidities in multiple organ systems. The most commonly observed disease entities were: global developmental delay, developmental dysplasia of the hip, and epilepsy. Clinicians should be aware of the common associations, in order to screen for and begin appropriate investigations, referrals, and treatments in affected cases.
Level Of Evidence:
Level III.
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