[NPInfo] Scoliosis

[susanapr at aol.com]

 In my community, the local hospital had the capability to image a full spine on one film, so any curve found on exam was sent to the radiology dept. for a scoliosis series.? If on exam your sense is there may be a leg length discrepancy, have the child sit way back on the exam table and bend forward, which takes the legs out of the equation.
Any curvature greater than ten degrees was referred to a particular local ortho for evaluation and management.? Bracing considered at around twenty degrees.? Over the years I had a few teens who required surgical management with curves greater than 40 degrees.
Less than ten degrees was considered mild, I would repeat the scoliosis series in 6 months, and if the same same or still under ten degrees, then again in six months/annually with well visits.
The time when things can shift quickly dramatically is at the pubertal growth spurt.? After Tanner III, it was the rare curve that continued to progress.

susan