title: Progression of the curve in boys who have idiopathic scoliosis.
abstract: The prevalence of curve progression was evaluated in 210 boys who had idiopathic scoliosis. A minimum age of eight years, a deformity of at least 10 degrees, and radiographic follow-up of one year or progression of the curve within the first year of follow-up were the criteria for inclusion in the study. Of the 210 patients, sixty-eight (32 per cent) had progression of 10 degrees or more. Four of the five patients who had had an initial curve of 50 degrees or more subsequently had a spinal arthrodesis. The risk of progression was significantly greater for patients who were at an earlier Risser stage (p < 0.002) and for those who were younger (p < 0.005). The risk of progression was also greater for patients who had had a larger curve at the time of presentation; of the sixty-three boys for whom the Risser grade was 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 when they were first seen and who had a curve of 25 degrees or more, twenty (32 per cent) had progression, compared with only two (5 per cent) of the thirty-eight who had a Risser grade of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 and a curve of 24 degrees or less. Of the thirty-four patients for whom the Risser grade was 4 when they were first seen, five (15 per cent) had progression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Scoliosis Surgery, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children, Dallas, Texas 75219.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Karol
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology*