ArticleSpine deformity
Does School Screening Affect Scoliosis Curve Magnitude at Presentation to a Pediatric Orthopedic Clinic?
Article in Spine deformity. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- A comprehensive narrative review of scoliosis in children and adolescents: epidemiology, screening strategies, therapeutic interventions, and biomechanical research.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Using Explainable Machine Learning to Identify Determinants of Spinal Deformities in Children: It's Not Only About What, but Also About How.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Structural Drivers of Race and Sex Disparities in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Care: A Narrative Review.Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine · 2026Review
- Neural network-based multi-task learning to assist planning of posterior spinal fusion surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.Spine deformity · 2025Article
- Clinical and Topographic Screening for Scoliosis in Children Participating in Routine Sports: A Prevalence and Accuracy Study in a Spanish Population.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- The role of school medicine in the early detection and management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.Wiener klinische Wochenschrift · 2023Article
- An Examination of the Number of Adolescent Scoliotic Curves That Are Braceable at First Presentation to a Scoliosis Service.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is more accurate when performed by healthcare professionals compared to untrained parents: a diagnostic accuracy study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2022Article
- Parents can reliably and accurately detect trunk asymmetry using an inclinometer smartphone app.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2022Article
- Article
- Screening for scoliosis - New recommendations, old dilemmas, no straight solutions.World journal of orthopedics · 2020Review
- Influence of Insurance Status on Curve Magnitude in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis in Mainland China.Global spine journal · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundWith new data supporting the efficacy of bracing, the role of school screening for early detection of moderate scoliosis curves has been revisited. Because of a high rate of false-positive screening and cost concerns, a comprehensive county-wide school screening program was discontinued in 2004. We aim to determine the impact of a comprehensive school screening program on curve magnitude at presentation and initial scoliosis treatment for all local county patients presenting to a pediatric orthopedic clinic from all referral sources.
methodsBetween 1994 and 2014, a total of 761 county patients presented to a pediatric orthopedic clinic for new scoliosis evaluation. Curve magnitude and recommended treatment were recorded. Treatment indications for bracing, surgery, and observation were consistent over the study period.
resultsFrom January 1994 to July 2004 (school screening period), 514 children were seen by a pediatric orthopedic specialist for scoliosis evaluation compared to 247 patients from August 2004 to December 2014 (no school screening). There was a 48% decrease in the number of county children who were evaluated for idiopathic scoliosis by pediatric orthopedics once school screening was discontinued. Mean maximal Cobb angle at presentation increased from 20° (range, 4°-65°) to 23° (range, 7°-57°). At presentation, 5 of 514 (0.97%) patients in the screened group required surgery and 68 of 514 (13.2%) required bracing, compared to 3 of 247 (1.2%) patients in the nonscreened group requiring surgery and 47 of 247 (19%) requiring bracing (p>.05, p=.04, respectively).
conclusionAfter school screening was discontinued, mean curve magnitude and rates of bracing at presentation statistically increased in county patients evaluated for new scoliosis, although the clinical significance is unclear. After school screening was discontinued, there were fewer patient referrals, braces prescribed, and unnecessary evaluations (patients discharged at first visit). This study provides data to evaluate the role of school screening for children with regular access to health care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3.
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