Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: is rising growth rate the triggering factor in progression?

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Résumé

Le programme de dépistage de la scoliose à l'âge scolaire pratiqué au “Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children” de Dublin a fourni le matériel nécessaire à une étude prospective continue de l'histoire naturelle des scolioses idiopathiques de l'adolescent. L'analyse de l'évolution clinique observée chez 339 filles a montré que les progressions d'au moins 10°, survenues chez 46 d'entre elles (13,6%), dépendaient du moment du diagnostic et étaient bien plus liées à la situation de l'enfant sur sa courbe de croissance et à son état pubertaire qu'à la maturité squelettique donnée par le degré d'ossification de la crête iliaque ou l'âge osseux. Cette notion est riche d'implications pour la compréhension de l'histoire naturelle, pour l'établissement des programmes de dépistage et pour l'interprétation des résultats du traitement conservatcur.

Summary

The school scoliosis screening programme at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, has provided material for an ongoing prospective natural history study of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. An examination of the clinical course in 339 girls showed that observation of progression of at least 10°, which occurred in 46 girls (13.6%), depended on the timing of diagnosis and related primarily to the child's position on her growth rate curve and her pubertal status, and much less to skeletal maturity as interpreted by iliac crest ossification or bone age. This has implications for the understanding of results in conservative management, screening programmes and natural history.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Ascani E, Bartolozzi P, Logroscino CA, Marchetti PG, et al (1986) Natural history of untreated idiopathic scoliosis after skeletal maturity. Spine 11:784–789

    Google Scholar 

  2. Biondi J, Weiner DS, Bethem D, Reed JF (1985) Correlation of Risser sign and bone age determination in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Paediatr Orthop 5:698–701

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brown JC, Axelgaard J, Howson DC (1984) Multicenter trial of a non-invasive stimulation method for idiopathic scoliosis: a summary of early treatment results. Spine 9:382–387

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bunnell WP (1986) The natural history of idiopathic scoliosis before skeletal maturity. Spine 11:773–776

    Google Scholar 

  5. Carr AW, Moe JW, Winter RB, Lonstein JE (1980) Treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in the Milwaukee brace. J Bone Joint Surg 62-A:599–612

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cobb JR (1948) Outline for the study of scoliosis. Am Acad Orth Surg (Instructional course) 7:261–275

    Google Scholar 

  7. Emans JB, Kaelin A, Bancel P, Hall JE, Miller ME (1986) The Boston bracing system for idiopathic scoliosis. Follow-up results in 295 patients. Spine 11:792–801

    Google Scholar 

  8. Frost HM (1979) A chondral modelling theory. Calcif Tissue Int 28:181–200

    Google Scholar 

  9. Goldberg C, Dowling FE (1986) Natural history of idiopathic scoliosis. Proceedings of the Scoliosis Research Society, Bermuda, Sept, pp 22–26

  10. Goldberg C, Thompson F, Dowling F, Regan BF, Blake NS (1980) Pilot study for a screening programme in South Dublin. J Irish Med Assoc 73:265–268

    Google Scholar 

  11. Goldberg C, Fogarty EE, Blake NS, Dowling F, Regan BF (1983) School scoliosis screening: a review of 21,000 children. Irish Med J 76:247–249

    Google Scholar 

  12. Goldberg C, Blake NS, Fogarty EE, Dowling FE, Regan BF (1987) School scoliosis screening: a report. Irish Med J 80: 325–326

    Google Scholar 

  13. Goldberg C, Dowling FE, Fogarty EE, Regan BF, Blake NS (1988) Electro-spinal stimulation in children with adolescent and juvenile scoliosis. Spine 13:482–484

    Google Scholar 

  14. Goldberg C, Emans JB, Hall JE, Dolan M, Dowling FE (1992) Scoliosis, bracing and the Risser sign. A statistical comparison of bracing and natural history. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 74 [Suppl]:85

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hoey HMCV, Cox LA, Tanner JM (1986) The age of menarche in Irish girls. Irish Med J 79:283–285

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hoey HMCV, Tanner JM, Cox IA (1987) Clinical growth standards for Irish children. Acta Paediatr Scand Suppl 338

  17. Howell FR, Mahood JK, Dickson RA (1992) Growth beyond skeletal maturity. Spine 17:437–440

    Google Scholar 

  18. James JIP (1954) Idiopathic scoliosis: the prognosis, diagnosis and operative indications related to curve patterns and the age of onset. J Bone Joint Surg 36-B:36–49

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kehl DK, Morrisey RT (1988) Brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. An update on concepts and technique. Clin Orthop 229:34–43

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lonstein JE, Carlson JM (1984) The prediction of curve progression in untreated idiopathic scoliosis during growth. J Bone Joint Surg 66-A:1061–1971

    Google Scholar 

  21. Marshall WA (1974) Interrelationships of skeletal maturation, sexual development and somatic growth in man. Ann Hum Biol 1:29–40

    Google Scholar 

  22. Risser JC (1958) The iliac apophysis: an invaluable sign in the management of scoliosis. Clin Orthop 11:111–118

    Google Scholar 

  23. Risser JC, Ferguson AB (1936) Scoliosis: its prognosis. J Bone Joint Surg 18:557–670

    Google Scholar 

  24. Root AW (1973) Endocrinology of puberty. I. Normal sexual maturation. J Paediatr 83:1–19

    Google Scholar 

  25. Scoles PV, Salvagno R, Villalba K, Riew D (1988) Relationship of iliac crest maturation to skeletal and chronological age. J Paediatr Orthop 8:639–644

    Google Scholar 

  26. Swank SM, Brown JC, Jennings MV, Conradi C (1989) Lateral electrical surface stimulation in idiopathic scoliosis. Experience to two private practices. Spine 14:1293–1295

    Google Scholar 

  27. Terver S, Kleinman R, Bleck EE (1980) Growth landmarks and the evolution of scoliosis: a review of pertinent studies and their usefulness. Dev Med Child Neurol 22:675–684

    Google Scholar 

  28. Urbaniak JR, Schaffer WW, Stelling FH (1986) Iliac apophyses. Prognostic value in idiopathic scoliosis. Clin Orthop 116:80–85

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zaoussis AL, James JIP (1958) The iliac apophysis and the evolution of curves in scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 40:442–453

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland

    C. J. Goldberg

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland

    F. E. Dowling & E. E. Fogarty

Authors
  1. C. J. Goldberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. E. Dowling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. E. Fogarty
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goldberg, C.J., Dowling, F.E. & Fogarty, E.E. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: is rising growth rate the triggering factor in progression?. Eur Spine J 2, 29–36 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301052

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00301052

Mots-clés

Key words

Search

Navigation