The modern concept of early diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract

The article describes an approach for early diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic scoliosis adopted at the Novosibirsk Re- search Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (NRITO). Idiopathic scoliosis is a genetically determined disease. Screening examinations of children and adolescents are required for early diagnosis of the disease. The most effective con- servative treatment is brace therapy. Surgical treatment is strictly differentiated depending on the patient age. Multi-stage treatment by means of VEPTR instrumentation has been used in patients of the first decade of life. One-stage surgery us- ing transpedicular fixation throughout the curve has been performed in patients aged 11–13 years. One- or two-stage sur- gery, depending on the curve mobility, has been used in patients aged 14–20 years. Deformities of more than 90° require a multistage intervention with anterior and posterior spinal mobilization.

Keywords

• idiopathic scoliosis
• conservative treatment
• surgical treatment
• screening