Information for Patients

Scoliosis is a multiplanar spinal deformity characterized by a lateral curvature in the coronal plane, lordosis in the sagittal plane, and rotational abnormality in the axial plane. The deformity may present in pediatric patients of any age and is typically classified according to age of onset as infantile (< 3 years of age), juvenile (3 to 10 years of age), or adolescent (> 10 years of age). A two-part classification has been proposed that divides the population into two sets: early onset (< 5 years of age) and late onset (≥ 5 years of age) scoliosis. Although this two-part classification is simpler and likely more clinically relevant, the three-part classification is used in this review given its prevalence in the available scoliosis literature. The critical components of the evaluation of the patient with idiopathic scoliosis are discussed, and the current understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of the disease are reviewed. The central components of the history, physical examination, and radiographic evaluation of the patient with idiopathic scoliosis are also detailed.