Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a report from the United States Preventive Services Task Force

The analysis of screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis published by the USPSTF is an important document, both because it reintroduces the task force as an important player in the clinical policies business and because it points (once again) to the deficiencies in our scientific understanding of a relatively common condition. Certainly medicolegal, cost, outcome, and patient preference issues not completely accounted for in the task force analysis need to be included in a fully developed clinical policy for this condition. The findings allow family physicians to use their own judgment pending publication of better and more complete data. On the whole the USPSTF analysis suggests that a nonaggressive approach toward screening is indicated until we have evidence clearly pointing one direction or the other.