Development of trunk asymmetries and structural scoliosis in prepuberal school children in Malmö: follow-up study of children 10-14 years of age.

TLDR: Adolescents with scoliosis severe enough to need treatment always had a visible trunk asymmetry at the age of 10, which implies that progressive idiopathic scolia requiring some type of treatment during adolescence can be found in this risk group at theage of 10 years.

Abstract: Trunk asymmetries were diagnosed at the age of 10 in school children (2,200 cases) in Malmo. A combined clinical-moire screening program was used. Twenty-five percent of the girls and 19% of the boys had a positive forward bending test. A positive moire asymmetry was seen in 13% of the girls and in 11% of the boys. More extreme moire asymmetries were seen in 0.8% of the girls and 0.6% of the boys. All of these cases were roentgenographed and the mean Cobb angle was 14 degrees. Moire asymmetries of one moire fringe or more were defined as a risk group and were followed up annually until the age of 14 years by means of moire photography. During the following 3 years, the moire asymmetry increased markedly in 14 girls and four boys. Five of these 32 roentgenographed cases had progressive scoliosis needing brace treatment. All cases referred to as symmetric trunks at the age of 10 were also reexamined annually. In no case did the scoliosis exceed 15 degrees. This implies that adolescents with scoliosis severe enough to need treatment always had a visible trunk asymmetry at the age of 10. Consequently, progressive idiopathic scoliosis requiring some type of treatment during adolescence can be found in this risk group at the age of 10 years.