Idiopathic Scoliosis

Adolescents

Treatment

Treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis falls into three main categories: observation, bracing and surgery. The treatment recommended is based on the risk of curve progression. In general, AIS curves progress during the rapid growth period of the patient. While most curves slow their progression significantly at the time of skeletal maturity, some, especially curves greater than 60^o, continue to progress during adulthood.

Since scoliosis gets larger during rapid growth, the potential for growth is evaluated taking into consideration the patient's age, the status of whether females have had their first menstrual period, as well as radiographic parameters. In general, girls grow until 14 years of age, while boys grow until 18 years of age. Girls grow very rapidly until their first menstrual period, and then their growth generally slows down. Women continue to grow until approximately 2 years after their first menstrual period.

Figure 1: "Risser Grading System - as the iliac apophysis (growth area) moves from
outside to inside, the child is approaching skeletal maturity.

Radiographs of the spine, pelvis, and hand/wrist are also used to determine growth. The Risser grading system (Figure 1) is often used to determine a child's skeletal maturity (how much growth is left) on the pelvis, which correlates with how much spine growth is left. The Risser grading system rates a child's' skeletal maturity on a scale of 0 to 5. Patients who are Risser 0 and 1 are growing rapidly, while patients who are 4 and 5 have stopped growing. Generally patients who are being treated in a scoliosis clinic will have their height measured at each visit to help determine growth potential.

Click to read Stacy's Story!

< PREVIOUS | NEXT >

Patient and Family

Main

Patient Stories

Kyphosis