School screening and pelvic tilt scoliosis

5303 schoolchildren aged 10-14 years were screened for scoliosis in an epidemiological survey. 375 (7.1%) had curves of 5-9 degrees inclusive and of these 138 had scoliosis secondary to a tilt of the pelvis. Radiographic measurements showed that the pelvic tilt was due to pelvic asymmetry, leg length inequality, or both, but bore no relation to the height of the iliac crests. Pelvic asymmetry occurred more commonly in combination with leg length inequality than as an isolated finding. In order to detect idiopathic scoliosis in the thoracolumbar or lumbar region, pelvic tilt scoliosis must be identified and excluded, but this can only be done radiographically.